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'Check on people': Mayor says some 'will be fearful of what's to come' after 5.9 quake
The 'severe' quake hit just south of Taumarunui at a depth of 9km.

Double silver start for Kiwi swimmers in Glasgow
Erika Fairweather took 400m freestyle silver while Lewis Clareburt set a personal best.

Stuart and Sarah Nash’s last political interview: ‘Stuart is many things, but he is not sexist’
'I just think it was an easy way to get Stuart out of the picture.'

Lawson makes strong start in Hungary, top 10 in both practice sessions
Car upgrades appear to have paid off for the Kiwi at the Hungaroring.

NZ First got a glimpse of what life was like without Winston Peters – and it wasn’t good
Inside NZ First's week from hell.
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'Severe' magnitude 5.9 quake strikes near Taumarunui
The tremor struck at 4.51am on Saturday and was centred 5km south-west of Taumarunui at a depth of 9km.

Does NZ have too many new townhouses – and are they crashing the market?
They seem to be everywhere, but do Kiwis need all these townhouses? And are they lowering the value of the homes that belong to the rest of us?

The 'Hollywood drug': Why cocaine is gaining ground in New Zealand
Cocaine is now following methamphetamine's smuggling routes – and one researcher says it's here to stay.

'I can see the appeal of leaving NZ, and I know exactly which way I'll vote'
Opinion: In the latest in our State of the Nation series, a 30-something parent and operations manager shares her views about the current direction of Aotearoa.

Karl Te Nana reveals key player to watch as NPC rugby kicks off
Free-to-screen rugby is being revived this season with the NPC live and free on TVNZ+.

Lotto jackpots to $40m tonight – how it stacks up to other big wins
Ticket holders will have a chance at winning big today.

New Zealand claims first medals of 2026 Commonwealth Games
Kiwi swimmer Erika Fairweather claimed silver in the women's 400m freestyle. while Lewis Clareburt clinched silver in the men's 200m individual medley final.

'A bit dumb': Cat rescued after hitching ride in Uber engine bay
Norton travelled all the way from Hataitai to Johnsonville hidden inside the unsuspecting driver's bonnet.

Firefighters tackle large house fire in Stokes Valley
Fire crews were called to a property around 6.26pm.

Waterloo homicide: Police seek sightings of two vehicles
Nathaniel Sturmey, 29, was found dead on the ground outside an address on Malone Rd at around 8am on April 9.
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LeBron James reveals who he will end his NBA career with
The 41-year-old James is set to sign a modest US$8-million, two-year contract with the Sixers, according to ESPN.
Four-time champion launches brilliant attack to close in on another Tour de France title
Even by the four-time Tour champion's lofty standards, it was up there with his best wins as he was more than three minutes behind with 12km remaining.
Watch: Klopp starts Germany reign by threatening to quit
The former Liverpool boss has taken over on a four-year deal after Julian Nagelsmann resigned this month after their shock World Cup defeat by Paraguay.
Recap: Kiwi swimmers bag first medals of Commonwealth Games
Follow live coverage of the New Zealand at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Watch: Kiwis win two Commonwealth Games silver medals in pool
New Zealand is off the mark after bagging two medals in the space of minutes in Glasgow.
Watch: US golfer sinks monster putt to card rare round of 59
Michael Kim becomes only the 15th player in PGA Tour history to achieve the feat.
'It went on and on': Strong 5.9 earthquake jolts North Island
The quake hit at 4.51am on Saturday and was centred 5km south-west of Taumarunui at a depth of 10km.
Police boat crashes into bridge in central London, sending officers into the Thames
Paramedics treated the injured on a black inflatable boat as a police helicopter hovered overhead near the clock tower that houses the bell known as Big Ben.
The growing town an hour from Christchurch with homes under $400k
With CVs ranging from $395,000 to $665,000, the featured properties showcase the variety and affordability on offer in the Ashburton district.
The surprise reason Trump has hit NZ with fresh 12.5% tariffs
The US president has confirmed plans to impose double digit tariffs on 60 countries - including NZ – after an investigation into goods allegedly made with forced labour.
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‘It’s a song and a prayer’: The hidden cost of 1300 empty nursing jobs
More than 1300 nursing roles are vacant across NZ’s public health system, leaving frontline staff increasingly reliant on exhausted colleagues working extra shifts to keep wards running.
Editorial: The RMA deserves a better successor
EDITORIAL: In trying to replace the Resource Management Act too quickly, the Government risks producing another law that fails to stand the test of time.
Ryan Fox, Champion Golfer of the Year ... now what? How our Open winner backs this up
The newly crowned British Open winner reflects on special messages, his aggressive mindset and what comes next on a golfing journey that just got different.
New electoral restrictions risk real damage to our social fabric
OPINION: A tight election with tens of thousands of disallowed votes could be very dangerous.
All Black great’s mission to get NZ Rugby back on top
Incoming NZ Rugby head of men’s high performance Conrad Smith warns the country is ‘too small’ to get back to No 1 unless it is working together.
Is cash still king? Change may be coming
Across the country, many businesses, charities and even banks have moved away from cash. It’s convenient, but comes with risks.
More than 250 offenders let off for family violence crimes
More than 250 Kiwis were let off without a conviction for family violence crimes in 2025, including 13 for strangulation or suffocation, new data show.
The Brewer becoming the world's top spirits lobbyist
The head of Spirits New Zealand is now set to become president of the World Spirits Alliance. But what does a global lobbyist of this sort actually do?
Andy Burnham’s populist template offers a way forward for NZ
OPINION: In the book of Burnham, markets and governments are complements, not substitutes.
From bridges to a billion streams: Savage’s extraordinary rise
From South Auckland’s toughest streets to global charts, Savage reflects on survival, reinvention and faith ahead of his Wellington Great Sounds Great set this September.
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How a ballet school’s 50-year legacy unravelled
The entire board has resigned, the historical criminal conviction of the trust chair has resurfaced and a new school has rapidly opened on the same site.
Christchurch residents challenge ‘planning failure’ behind developer’s looming takeover of narrow street
An Addington neighbourhood has been told the city council had no choice but approve a large development.
Disability advocate calls for end to ‘unacceptable cruelty’ of bullying in public places
Disability advocates are calling on the city council and national authorities to act on the verbal abuse and harassment of disabled people in public spaces.
Dual silvers for swimmers to start NZ medal haul at Commonwealth Games
Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt were second in their respective finals on the opening day of the 2026 Games swim meet in Glasgow.
Cold, wet, but in ‘good spirits’: 87-year-old fisherman rescued in the Mackenzie
The successful rescue of a disoriented elderly man in the Mackenzie District is being attributed to strong ties between police and the community.
Netball champion turned rugby star Paris Lokotui ‘ready to hit some people’ in Super Rugby Aupiki final
Versatile elite athlete Paris Lokotui is set to make history as she goes from elite netball champion to Super Rugby final in one year.
Gold medallist, TV star among high-profile Kiwis to help in rebuild of ‘dysfunctional, horrible’ Sumner pavilion
TV journalist Lisa Davies and Commonwealth swimming gold medallist Anna Simcic in Strictly Sumner dance competition to help rebuild the suburb’s sports pavilion.
The threatened future of Pegasus
EDITORIAL: Pegasus residents have every right to be upset.
Service stations under the pump with 20,000 drive offs last year
Lobby group wants more police action and tax breaks for gas stations to deal with the problem.
Two cakes, a card from King Charles and a special message from TV host Bradley Walsh for NZ’s second-oldest citizen
Doris Wakelin may have had two cakes, a karaoke party and cards from King Charles, the prime minister and the governor-general to mark her birthday, but it might just be a personal message from her favourite TV host that put the biggest twinkle in her eye.
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Mustang probe widens to include rescue chopper fundraising campaigns
Internal Affairs is investigating at least four NZ Rescue fundraisers - three linked to Coromandel’s rescue chopper trust, and one in Matamata.
‘How much pain is enough?’ Amputee’s struggle for treatment
When Tony Rowe lost his arm to a maize harvester, the pain was white-hot, but it was also rapidly overtaken by adrenaline as he fought to stay alive.
Brenda’s in the saddle for her community
Brenda Barrowcliffe may not have had a pony as a kid, but that didn’t stop her from developing a life-long passion that now fundraises for her community.
Business forum to examine council amalgamation options
The Chamber of Commerce will host a panel to educate businesses on how different local council amalgamation options may affect them.
Service stations under the pump with 20,000 drive offs last year
Lobby group wants more police action and tax breaks for gas stations to deal with the problem.
Turning sixty and taking stock
OPINION: What is the point? Do we measure by procreation, capitalism, interpersonal relationships?
‘One tough Pole’ who survived a war and made a life in NZ
The first 11 years of Jadwiga Lynch’s life were happy, then the Soviets invaded Poland.
Where have all the ATMs gone? Letters to the editor
ATMs charging per transaction and the cost of a new playground are among the topics of today’s letters.
Days of Future Past: Book fair find a piece of sporting history
When Richard Swainson found it, he broke into a run intent on thrusting it in the face of an old friend.
City schools combine forces as Shakespeare show gets a twist
It’s most famous line is ‘if music be the food of love, play on’ - but one of Shakespeare’s comedies is getting a remix for an upcoming Hamilton show.
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My friends are all leaving NZ. Should I stay or should I go?
I used to tell people that New Zealand was the perfect place to die. But is it still a good place to live?
The mysterious origins of the NZ meat pie
For a dish that is so important to our nation, precious little is known about the development of the meat pie.

Big feelings, small spend: a guide to birthdays on a budget
Smart ideas for making the people you love feel like a million bucks – without spending anything close.
Where to eat in Glen Eden, Auckland – an insider’s guide
From beef rendang to smash burgers to koko brownies, here’s how to eat your way through Glen Eden like a local.
‘A reader reads a reader’: Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason, reviewed
A novel about how we read, and why.

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending July 24
Homer is making himself right at home (thanks to Emily Wilson).

Echo Chamber: Kneepads off, claws out
This week an unlikely hero emerged from National’s backbenches, and the Nash took itself out.

New production Home Made made no sense – and perfect sense
Massive Theatre Company’s new show delivers the warm fuzzies in a confusingly beautiful way.

The cost of being: A ‘broke, hungry, stressed’ single mum working full time
‘We never eat out, go on trips or buy unnecessary things. Food is meticulously planned, and any activities have to be planned out way in advance.’

Who’s going to make the council amalgamation deadline? And what happens to those that don’t
With just over a fortnight until the deadline, the question is no longer whether all regions will meet it, but whether ministers will impose their own solutions on the regions that don’t.