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The Alps to Ocean trail runs alongside Lake Pukaki and the community has warned it could be impacted.

‘Potentially devastating’: Fast-track bid to take more Lake Pukaki water

Meridian Energy’s fast-track proposal to draw more water from Lake Pukaki has sparked concerns it could hurt Mackenzie's tourism industry and threaten its pristine image.

Cari is receiving warmth and protection at Gisborne SPCA Centre.

Puppy abandoned on cold night outside SPCA safe and 'well-loved'

A young puppy was found in a carboard box outside SPCA Gisborne centre, and is now being "well looked after" by staff.

A Kmart store pictured in Hamilton in 2021. File photo.

Kmart returning checkouts to exits in Australia

Two dozen more Kmarts will be refurbished with a new format that moves the cash registers back to the store entrances, and the group is also trialling a new concept store for home goods.

Affected health workers included psychologists and counsellors, physiotherapists, administrators, social workers, and those in cancer support services.

Frontline jobs to go in 'significant' Health NZ restructure, union says

According to the Public Service Association, roles across Taranaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti are proposed for disestablishment.

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Winter power: How much does an electric blanket cost to run?

It's the season of higher power bills, but just how much are your appliances contributing to your overheads?

The Reserve Bank said ASB's transaction monitoring system and its anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism programme were "inadequate" for around six years, which it called "unacceptable".

ASB penalised $6.7m over 'inadequate' anti-money laundering systems

It was the largest ever penalty of its kind imposed in New Zealand.

Police were called to Masjid As-Salam on Akatea Road, Glendene at around 7.20pm

Five charged after man sustains head injuries at Auckland mosque

Police were called to Masjid As-Salam on Akatea Rd in Glendene shortly after 7pm on Tuesday.

Microsoft's Bill Gates attends a dinner with President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House, Sept. 4, 2025

Bill Gates to testify in US Congress panel's Epstein investigation

The Microsoft co-founder was asked to testify after he appeared multiple times in the Epstein files.

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Twelve dead, more injured in mass shooting in Johannesburg

Police believe more than 10 suspects were dropped off in a minibus in an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg and opened fire on people.

The fernery at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton closed on Wednesday due to people pooing inside it.

Faeces in the fernery: Town's attraction closed by people pooing

Masterton's historic fernery was forced to close on Wednesday after people defecated inside it.

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NZ Super was told off for its ‘unlawful’ rules when investing in Airbnb. Activists are now targeting another company

An activist group is urging the NZ Super Fund to get rid of its shares in US tech company Palantir because of its role in foreign wars.

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Next-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse revealed as rebadged Nissan Leaf

Having had its launch in NZ get called off in March, could the Nissan Leaf make it here as a Mitsubishi?

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‘Unfortunate’ All Black could be the Chiefs’ lucky charm after injury torment

Josh Lord’s luck has improved. The Chiefs will hope his inclusion can also sway fortune their way as genuine jeopardy grips Super Rugby Pacific.

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Massage therapist accused of sexual misconduct against 17 women

Neil Yardeni, the owner and operator of a therapeutic massage business, is on trial facing 23 charges that span a seven year period.

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‘We didn't want something that was average’: Rural family builds an accidental award-winning home

When Tracy O'Connor and George Meyer first started planning their forever home, winning awards was never on their mood board.

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The SpaceX IPO needs a bright red hype warning

Warning: volatility may be on the way for Kiwi investors.

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AM quiz: Joseph Pilates created the exercise technique named after him in which century?

Stuff morning quiz: June 11

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Who will win the Super Rugby Pacific semifinals and why

Stuff rugby writers make their predictions ahead of two tasty New Zealand derbies.

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You Pick A Side: Should adults be allowed to order from the kids’ menu?

Each week, we’ll put up a simple question, make the case for both sides, and let you decide.

Read her last rites, a stranger's gift gave this woman 52 more years

Read her last rites, a stranger's gift gave this woman 52 more years

Minja Ivelja was close to death when she had a kidney transplant in 1974 - the donated organ was still going strong when she died, aged 79, last month.

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Revenue minister denies favouring the wealthy with Budget tax change

Budget move is expected ease the “mental burden” on Kiwis who have splashed out on overseas share markets. Labour hasn’t questioned the Government’s priorities.

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‘Not the promise we were sold’: $400m water shock for Wellington councils

Council leaders say Wellington’s new water entity was meant to have complete financial separation. The reality is quite different.

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National MP doubts power retailers’ hardship programmes reach struggling customers

Meridian appeared to make an open-ended commitment to help those in need at a select committee hearing, but Carlos Cheung says he wants to see “some real examples”.

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A tale of two mayors and Labour's $65 million transport policy

Auckland’s Wayne Brown is “concerned” about how Labour’s plan for a public transport fare cap would be funded, while Andrew Little says it would be good for Wellington.

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Is the Attenborough Effect turning Kiwis against bottom trawling?

Commercial bottom trawling has suddenly found itself squarely in the crosshairs of public opinion.

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Earthquakes are our biggest disaster fear even with more floods and storms than ever

Fear of the ‘big one’ tops most Kiwis’ minds when it comes to natural disasters even as we navigate nearly weekly disastrous weather.

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‘Felt like climbing Everest’: Housing funding agency hits $500m in lending

The Community Housing Funding Agency has hit half a billion in lending after just 18 months, but it still has a long way to go on its mission.

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The Global Read: US govt-tasked study’s drinking findings ignored in guidelines

President Donald Trump's administration decided not to feature the researchers' findings in new dietary guidelines as it faced pushback from the alcohol industry and a congressional committee.

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The long and short of it: The case for changing NZ Super eligibility

ANALYSIS: On the face of it, there is a case for raising the age of eligibility for NZ Super from the current age of 65. It’s well past time we had a mature conversation about this as a country – but to do so we need to gather the data first.

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The land remembers us, even when the law forgets

OPINION: I know a place at Mahia where the wind comes off the sea in a way that feels like a greeting.

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Evicted businessman Bernard Whimp plays down court orders, blasts media

Troubled Canterbury businessman Bernard Whimp is playing down his court-mandated eviction and says news media are spreading lies about him.

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New central Christchurch hotel to replace ambitious apartment tower plan

Hotel plans have been released for a vacant site where other proposals including a luxury apartment tower have failed to go ahead.

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Christchurch council flooded with 127 applications for ‘visionary’ leader

127 people from across New Zealand and Australia want to be the Christchurch City Council’s next chief executive - that’s 90 more than applied two years ago.

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Controversial RTD maker objects to new central Christchurch liquor store to head off further ‘no-Nitro’ clauses

The manufacturer filed an objection to a new off-licence application just in case someone else wanted to block their product.

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Boss of overgrown wastewater facility near Lake Wakatipu faces $4m fine for breaking rules

The plant accumulated “sludge and odorous material”, which could have contaminated groundwater that entered Lake Wakatipu.

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Golf champ Greg Turner calls Wolfbrook’s plan to rezone Pegasus Golf Course land for housing ‘despicable’

Turner and golf legend Sir Bob Charles have thrown their support behind a petition to stop the golf course becoming a “concrete jungle”.

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Old fire station gets new life as suburban shopping and hospitality hub

Several years since fire trucks last rolled out of Christchurch’s Harewood Fire Station, work is starting on a redevelopment turning it into a neighbourhood shopping and hospitality centre.

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‘There’s hostility from both sides’: Why the Crusaders relish facing the Chiefs in knockout footy

Many Crusaders and Chiefs players are team-mates in the All Blacks, but when they face each other friendships go out the window for 80 minutes.

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Is the Attenborough Effect turning Kiwis against bottom trawling?

Commercial bottom trawling has suddenly found itself squarely in the crosshairs of public opinion.

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Diamond Harbour ferry users ‘over the moon’ with Labour’s promise to cap public transport fares

Ferry users would be the biggest winners, while fewer than half of Christchurch bus trips would benefit from capping fares.

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‘There’s going to be a lot of angry people’ - Farmers unhappy with landmark environmental ruling

The regional council’s plan change will improve Waikato water quality over decades, but critics say the region will pay a significant economic price.

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Hillcrest High slows down senior uniform plan after parent pushback

Some students will also get subsidies from school coffers to help out after concern over the cost of the kit-out.

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Bestsellers: A Fieldays foodie feast

There’s plenty of good tucker for hungry punters at Fieldays and enough of it to satisfy a paddock-sized appetite.

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Running costs of Balloons over Waikato hits $1m heights

A new report reveals the Balloons Over Waikato festival is now a $1 million heavyweight event but it does have some issues to overcome.

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Lobby group blasts Kāinga Ora rent forgiveness

The Taxpayers’ Union takes aim in the wake of Waikato Times revelations about state housing agency for wiping rent.

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No conviction for racially-abused man who booted attacker in head

The altercation in the early hours in central Hamilton began with racial slurs being hurled and ended with a man being kicked hard in the head.

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Why New Zealand law needs clear definitions of woman and man

A Hamilton academic supports a bill to define ‘woman’ and ‘man’ by biological sex, arguing it would strengthen existing sex-based rights in law.

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A $20 ticket to the suburbs: Labour targets commuters with first big policy play

ANALYSIS: Cheaper public transport is aimed squarely at voters who can swap the car for a bus or train. The policy may be affordable, but its appeal is unlikely to be universal.

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Weeded out: Tenant ousted for smoking cannabis ‘almost daily’

A Hamilton renter had to find a new home after a boarding house kicked him out over his cannabis use.

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Government announces $143m partnership to boost primary sector

A new partnership aims to help farmers produce more value from existing land through technology, innovation and more flexible farming systems.

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Huffer, the AI accusation and the question that remains

Huffer, the AI accusation and the question that remains

Aside from posting on Instagram, what can you do if you spot an AI image that you think looks like you?

Dating Files: Leaving NZ to ‘widen my dating pool’

A 36-year-old ‘evil bisexual’ realises she has no interest in dating French men.

‘Salad slinger’ Charles Williams knows how Aucklanders like to eat

‘Salad slinger’ Charles Williams knows how Aucklanders like to eat

‘So many people are budget-conscious, but also way more conscious about what they put into their bodies.’

‘Before Larry David there was Ignatius J Reilly’: Nick Sceats’ favourite reads

Nick Sceats on the cult American novel he loves, crying to Fay Weldon, and a fantasy fight with Hemingway.

A battle over the bare minimum at Auckland Council

One councillor said tall buildings contribute to global warming. Another said Auckland doesn’t have a housing crisis.

The case for Māori switching to the general roll this election

The case for Māori switching to the general roll this election

Māori are being urged to think about whether their vote would have more impact in a general electorate this year.

The LNG levy is dead – but who will pay remains a mystery

The LNG levy is dead – but who will pay remains a mystery

The government has scrapped its plan to fund New Zealand’s proposed LNG import terminal via a levy on power bills but gives no specifics on alternative funding sources.

NZ suspicion of US has surged in Trump 2.0 – it’s now seen as a bigger threat than China

NZ suspicion of US has surged in Trump 2.0 – it’s now seen as a bigger threat than China

A new poll reveals a dramatic change in the way New Zealanders see the global giants.

All the finalists in the 2026 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

All the finalists in the 2026 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

All the best children’s books from Aotearoa, as selected by an esteemed panel of judges.

Government spending $300k per year on unused limos for former PMs

Government spending $300k per year on unused limos for former PMs

Taxpayers spent $298,359 keeping the chauffeured cars on standby last year. They were used for just $10,921 worth of trips.