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The heritage-listed building — home to Auckland's first McDonald's and, before that, one of the city's grandest 19th-century banks — is being redeveloped into a 32-level student accommodation tower.

Auckland's original McDonald's site to become 680-bed student tower

The building on Queen St will have its historic facade retained as part of the new development.

Sam Neill in 2016

Steven Spielberg, Nicole Kidman, Cillian Murphy mourn Sam Neill

Fellow actors and fans of Sam Neill mourned his loss after the actor died Monday.

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins. File photo.

Hipkins anticipates 'close' election as National takes another poll hit

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has reacted to a new poll, which has National again dropping into the 20s.

Sam Neill's Dr Alan Grant faces down a Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1993's Jurassic Park.

Sir Sam Neill’s greatest roles: From Sleeping Dogs to Jurassic Park

Across five decades, Sam Neill moved effortlessly between New Zealand dramas, Hollywood thrillers, cult favourites and cinematic landmarks.

Three boys play in the shallow waters of the Strait of Hormuz, as a plume of smoke rises from an explosion in the background, off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, July 13, 2026.

New US strikes on Iran as Trump says ships will be charged to transit Hormuz

Iran has insisted it controls the critical waterway, as another exchange of fire threatened a return to all-out war.

Sir Sam Neill.

'The genuine article': NZ's screen community remembers Sir Sam Neill

Friends and colleagues remember an actor whose warmth, humility and support for New Zealand's arts community left an enduring legacy.

A vehicle burns on SH1 at Transmission Gully. (Source: The Traffic Fox)

Vehicle fire shuts northbound lanes on Wellington's Transmission Gully

A vehicle fire near Wainui Saddle has shut State Highway 1 northbound, with motorists urged to use State Highway 59 and expect delays.

The Graham Norton Show first hit television screens in 2007.

Graham Norton reveals his talk show secrets, favourite guest

The talk show host sat down with Between Two Beers hosts Steven Holloway and Seamus Marten for an extended interview on TVNZ+.

Police at the scene of an incident on Auckland's Mercury Lane.

Two arrested after 'altercation' in Auckland CBD

A police spokesperson said officers were called to Mercury Lane after a "report of disorder" between three people at around 7.10pm.

Banking.

NZ's largest bank hikes some home loan rates

The bank's floating home loan rate rises from 5.79% to 6.04%, applying to new loans from Wednesday.

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Missing man’s mother says he ‘wasn’t in a good state of mind’ when he disappeared

The mother of a missing 22-year-old man says her autistic son “wasn’t in a good state of mind”.

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Explosions in Iran as US military launches attacks; Trump reinstates Hormuz Strait blockade

Iran and the US are nearly halfway through the 60-day interim deal period that was supposed to set up talks for a permanent end to the war.

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Car on fire on SH1 north of Wellington closes northbound lanes

A vehicle fire has forced the closure of the northbound lanes of Transmission Gully north of Wellington.

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‘There is a risk’: Labour warns left-leaning voters over party nearing 5%

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says “it’s still very early days” to consider speaking with Opportunity, after the fledgling party again came close to the 5% threshold to enter Parliament in the latest political poll.

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McCullum says sorry to England fans after being axed as test coach

Brendon McCullum has apologized to English cricket fans for his results as the national test coach and accepted “it’s time for someone else to have a go.”

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Lindsey Graham’s sister chosen to fulfil remainder of late US Senator’s term

Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, has been named as her late brother's temporary replacement in the U.S. Senate after his unexpected death over the weekend.

Quiz: The Hard Word ... a striking or extraordinary person or thing

Quiz: The Hard Word ... a striking or extraordinary person or thing

One word, one clue, one minute. Can you solve today’s Hard Word?

Britain Cannabis Canine Rescue

‘She had a very bad trip’: Dog sparks mountain rescue after eating cannabis

Christina Bluhme was high on the flanks of Britain's tallest mountain with her dogs and one of the hounds was a lot higher — and not in a good way.

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Family’s shock over dad’s death in hospital ED waiting room toilet

Brent Horsburgh’s family say they are “navigating the shock and sadness” of his death.

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NZ Post backs down on plan to scrap village’s mailboxes

A Waikuku Beach resident is ‘‘pretty rapt’’ private post boxes will remain at the village’s general store.

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Iran War

Editorial: Revolutionary Guard outplays Trump in the Gulf

EDITORIAL: While Donald Trump searches for an exit, Tehran's most powerful institution has every incentive to keep the pressure on.

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Wall Street falls as latest air strikes dim hopes for an end to US-Iran war

US indices dropped on Monday after US President Donald Trump reimposed a blockade on Iran amid the Strait of Hormuz closure dilemma.

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‘Highly likely’ NZ will soon join Australia-Fiji defence pact - Acting Prime Minister

Australia and Fiji have promised to come to each others’ aid if attacked

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Auckland-based private jet venture to cater for more than champagne-sipping tourists

With high net worth people coming to the country for multiple reasons, global executive aviation giant PrivatPort has chosen Auckland as its new Pacific HQ in a joint venture with SO Capital.

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Big-tech dependency deficit must be addressed at election: Catalyst IT

New Zealand's largest local open-source software and IT consultancy has issued a “manifesto” which sets out a roadmap for fixing what it calls over-budget, under-delivered Government IT.

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Undercover and maybe armed: US air marshals on NZ-bound flights

The Government has agreed that flights from the US to NZ can carry undercover American air marshals, likely from the end of August.

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Sir Sam Neill, Hollywood 'sex symbol' who was tipped to be James Bond: Obituary

Although he kept a home in LA for work purposes, he was never comfortable with the Hollywood star system and was happiest supporting the Antipodean film industry.

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National hits new low under Luxon, Opportunity nears Parliament in latest poll

National has slumped to its lowest level of support since Christopher Luxon became leader, while the fledgling Opportunity Party has surged to within a whisker of Parliament in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll.

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Historic Wellington building faces fix‑move‑sell showdown

First there was the Town Hall, then the City to Sea Bridge followed by the Gordon Wilson flats; now another stoush is brewing, between heritage advocates and the city council.

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Acting legend Sir Sam Neill had pneumonia, co-star says

New Zealand acting icon Sam Neill has died, his family have confirmed.

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Sam Neill: The Christchurch schoolboy who found acting and became a star

Here are some things you probably never knew about the actor, who has died aged 78.

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Acting legend Sir Sam Neill had pneumonia, co-star says

New Zealand acting icon Sam Neill has died, his family have confirmed.

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Sir Sam Neill: the world reacts to the death of a Kiwi icon

The world reacted to the death of Kiwi icon Sir Sam Neill with headlines celebrating him as a genius and a true gentleman.

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The activist, the winemaker, the conservationist

Sir Sam Neill, who died in Australia aged 78, is being remembered for speaking up about issues he cared passionately about, particularly those affecting the environment in his beloved Central Otago.

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Christchurch grocer barred from selling meat puts fish on the shelf instead

Harvest Market has partnered with a popular Christchurch fish shop to put a different kind of meat on its shelves.

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Safety audit urges speed hump for remaining half of Christchurch’s divided Deans Ave crossing

A section of Deans Ave between Hagley Park and Al Noor mosque has a speed hump on only one half of the road.

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Woodend bypass starting to look like roadkill on the RoNS off-ramp

OPINION: As a holiday weekend loomed, the Transport Minister Chris Bishop made his move, consigning his major roading projects policy dump to the mists of Matariki.

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Bryan Adams announces his return to New Zealand, with special guest Natalie Imbruglia

Rock star Bryan Adams is planning a quick return to New Zealand, following sold out shows last year, with March 2027 concerts announced for Auckland and Christchurch.

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Seaside cafe loses $2000 in produce after delivery stolen by waiting thief

A South Brighton café has been left $2000 out of pocket after two delivery orders were stolen from outside its back entrance during the busy Matariki long weekend.

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Fatal crash driver fell asleep at the wheel before car hit tree at 95kph

A motorist who smoked methamphetamine hours before driving into a tree, killing a passenger and injuring two others, previously encouraged sober driving after causing a serious crash in 2020.

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‘My motherhood in a box’: Waikato mum shocked at organ mix-up

After a hysterectomy, Marie McDonald had a small burial ceremony planned for her organs until she learned they weren’t hers.

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‘Hamilton’s living room on the river’: Regatta set to open in August

Diners are set to be welcomed to Hamilton’s new riverside restaurant Regatta around mid-August..

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‘Many questions remain unanswered’: Family speak out after man dies after nine-hour ED wait

The family of the man who died while waiting at Waikato Hospital’s Emergency Department says they are ‘navigating the shock and sadness’ of his death waiting for answers.

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Rural leaders push back on Waikato supercity plan

Waitomo’s mayor has called the proposed ‘supercity’ amalgamation option ‘madness’, while Feds reckon rural voices will be lost.

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New home for Hamilton’s tallest residents nearly complete

Hamilton Zoo’s new giraffe barn will be completed at the end of the year, much to the delight of zoo director Dr Baird Fleming

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From survival to optimism In Hamilton’s CBD

OPINION:

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Turning your house into a late-life money-maker

OPINION: When I think of downsizing I think of people who want or need to unlock capital from their houses: such people have a lot of house but not enough savings to live a decent life.

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Sir Sam Neill, Hollywood 'sex symbol' who was tipped to be James Bond: Obituary

Although he kept a home in LA for work purposes, he was never comfortable with the Hollywood star system and was happiest supporting the Antipodean film industry.

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Top opera talent to perform in fundraiser for city cathedral

A Night at the Opera will incorporate a number of historic firsts for the city’s new flagship venue.

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First central city playground on way for former Founders site

Hamilton’s central city is getting its first ever play space, with construction at Hinemoa Park set to kick off this week.

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‘It’s relentless’: What it’s like to be an ED nurse in New Zealand right now

‘It’s relentless’: What it’s like to be an ED nurse in New Zealand right now

‘It really feels like shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic’

The cost of being: A 50-something retraining to get off a ‘dead-end’ career path

‘I often ask myself, do I really need this? There is very little I actually need.’

What to see in Chugoku, the Japanese region with something for everyone

What to see in Chugoku, the Japanese region with something for everyone

It’s home to ancient traditions, epic outdoor adventures and one of the world’s most important historic sites – and that’s just the start of the story.

Vale Sam Neill, 1947–2026

Sam Neill, the world-renowned New Zealand actor has died in Sydney, aged 78.

What are they up to? The people who kept their Hotmail email addresses

Once derided as luddites, Hotmail holdouts have watched their ancient email provider become cool again.

Sam Neill’s extraordinary life on our screens, in his own words

Sam Neill’s extraordinary life on our screens, in his own words

New Zealand actor Sam Neill has died at the age of 78. In 2024, he spoke with Alex Casey about his extraordinary life on our screens.

The Smellie Plan: one vision to turbocharge New Zealand, going free to a good home

The Smellie Plan: one vision to turbocharge New Zealand, going free to a good home

A bold approach to create both an energy superpower and a more appealing place to live.

New To Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week

New To Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week

Including a new gritty gang series and Werner Herzog’s opus.

I was lost – no, actually, literally lost – without my smartphone

I was lost – no, actually, literally lost – without my smartphone

Forced to live without, I realised how many different parts of my brain my phone had been replacing – and how much those parts had atrophied over time.

I’m a referee – I want to quit because of the abuse

I’m a referee – I want to quit because of the abuse

Wellington rugby refs refused to take the field over the weekend due to ongoing abuse. But it’s not just a rugby problem.