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One dead, multiple hospitalised after suspected GHB overdoses
Police are treating the matter as urgent 'given the risk to the public'.

Black Caps v England: NZ under the pump as Duckett reaches century
All the action from day two of the third test, from Trent Bridge.

'Record' TV deal: Sky in box seat as part of massive new NRL, Warriors rights agreement
Australian reports say a $A5 billion deal has been agreed for NRL rights for seven years.

7pm split: Seven Sharp loses long-time sponsor ASB; 'I want my day in court': Brash v Hooton defamation claim
MediaWorks management buyout?; RNZ to split CEO/EIC roles; Health NZ's ad agency shake-up.

'I have not seen anything like this': Nine Auckland private hospital, surgical expansions
Private hospitals, specialist Auckland health boom: nine sites of expansion listed here.
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Roadside drug testing rolls out nationwide: What you need to know
Police are rolling out oral fluid drug testing nationwide from July 1. Here's exactly what to expect if you get pulled over.

Woman, 21, denied bowel cancer test – diagnosed stage 3 five years on
Amelia Noyes is just one example of young New Zealanders with bowel cancer who are often misdiagnosed, refused and wait months to find out what's wrong.

Around 200 flights cancelled, winds hammer Wellington region
Conditions are not expected to ease until tomorrow, when flights are forecast to resume from the capital.

Cook Islands fisher lost at sea for a week describes his ordeal
The man was spotted by a New Zealand Defence Force aircraft team and plucked out of the ocean by the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel last week.

Tears as Sydney mum jailed for fatally running down abusive ex
Samantha Hooker found herself in the middle of a continuing campaign of intimidation, provocation, and abuse from her partner, eventually losing control.

Flights cancelled in Wellington, Taranaki driver injured by fallen tree
Gusts of over 150km/h had been recorded at Mt Kaukau in the capital.

King Charles reveals how much tax he paid
The figures, for the first time, give the public a concrete idea of the King’s personal wealth, as opposed to the castles, jewels, and artwork.

'False reassurance': Warning over DIY prostate cancer test kits
After TV star Jeremy Clarkson revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis, there’s been a surge in men getting checked – with some doing it themselves at home.

How did Venezuela's deadly 'doublet' earthquakes happen?
The deadly one-two punch toppled buildings in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas and beyond, killing at least 235 people and injuring thousands.

NZ Muscle creatine recalled amid investigation into safety standards
NZ Muscle is recalling batches of its NZ Muscle and No Brand Creatine due to the possible presence of an undeclared allergen.
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Trump threatens 100% tax on European imports if countries impose tax on digital services
In a post on social media, Trump took aim at European countries that he said are discussing “imminent” implementation of taxes on American companies.
Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information
Bolton, who became an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump after serving in the Republican’s first administration, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28.
Under-pressure Belgium stand between All Whites and historic result
To reach the knockout stage, New Zealand must pull off the biggest result in their history against a star-studded Belgium side.
Many of these All Whites should get another shot at history. For some, it’s now or never
ANALYSIS: The class of 2026 have one last shot at making World Cup history when they face Belgium in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon (NZ time).
Senior detective used police access to escort convicted sex offender son from court
Detective Inspector Michael Ford’s actions after his son was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court have been referred to the police watchdog.
The southern city where houses cost under $550k and sell in under two weeks
But you’ll have to be quick; houses sell more than twice as fast as the national average here.
Builder left unbuilt homes and $3.5m of debt, but pursuing him is ‘not economic’
A complaint against Shape Construction director Toby Van T Veen remains unresolved, while legal action has either failed or been deemed too expensive to pursue.
Home reno nightmare: Couple claim losses of $100k from two design firms
An Auckland couple claim they are more than $100,000 out of pocket after two home design firms - both run by men called Mark - promised big but failed to deliver.
It’s one of the cheapest places to buy in New Zealand - but could you live there?
Taumarunui has the lowest average asking price, according to Trade Me. But affordability comes with trade-offs.
Should you subdivide your section? Here’s the reality check before you spend six figures
Homebuyers can often be tempted to buy a site that is subdivisible – the prospect of building a second, more modern home to move to in future years is appealing, or selling to another buyer to build on is attractive too.
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$27m pricetag sinks mooted name change for long-delayed national ticketing system
A mooted name change for long-delayed national ticketing system Motu Move - already budgeted to cost $1.36 billion - has been canned after Transport Minister Chris Bishop discovered it could cost $27.3 million and push the project back a further 12 months.
$11,000 bill for luxury London hotel amongst millions in total travel spend by ministers
Documents reveal ministers regularly stayed at high-end hotels while urging restraint across government.
Conjuror of calm: The life and times of Mr Fixit, Sir Brian Roche
When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appointed Sir Brian Roche tsar of the public service, he noted he’d been endorsed by every political party. So how do you become everyone’s favourite Mr Fixit?
Lower rents, spruce-up key to restoring golden vision
In recent years, the once lively Golden Mile has become a graveyard of abandoned sites, with many of Wellington’s most iconic retailers and hospitality hotspots closing up shop. What now?
If National's big push to the centre doesn't work, what then?
OPINION: If the party’s KiwiSaver gamble doesn’t pay off, MPs will ask if the phone is off the hook altogether.
Beat Belgium or bust: Chris Wood must take last chance for World Cup goals
ANALYSIS: New Zealand’s captain has done everything but score a World Cup goal. Now is his time to break the drought if the All Whites are to make history.
Once too sick for school, teenager now on track for excellence
Despite years of illness, 17-year-old Caitlin Gribble says she’s an example how “gaming the system” is no bad thing.
Creative sector urges Government to draw a line on AI and copyright
Millions of songs, books and artworks have already been used to train AI overseas. Now New Zealand must decide whether its copyright law should let the same thing happen here - or if artists deserve consent, credit and compensation.
Labour gets ready to rally this weekend as it prepares for the campaign trail
The party will hold its congress at Wellington’s convention centre this weekend
KiwiRail training gaps linked to repeated safety failures
At least five times in three years, KiwiRail has failed to properly train staff. The results at times could have been catastrophic
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$11,000 bill for luxury London hotel amongst millions in total travel spend by ministers
Documents reveal ministers regularly stayed at high-end hotels while urging restraint across government.
The fastest-growing district in New Zealand has a poo problem
Housing developers in Selwyn are hitting a bottleneck in the region’s sewerage pipes.
Christchurch loves league, but will an NRL team actually pay off for the city?
A rugby league franchise could bring jobs, investment and attention to Christchurch, but the true regional benefit would depend on whether it created new spending or merely shifted money already circulating in Canterbury.
Family spent twice their budget restoring this 1907 Sumner home
The substantial home on a large waterfront section has been in the same family for 33 years, and is now up for sale by auction.
Lyttelton Port's future draws closer to a decision, with automation lurking in the background
A proposal backed by DP World to run Lyttelton Port is expected to reach city councillors by early August, bringing a potentially major change in the port’s future a step closer.
Patients treated in corridors as Christchurch ED repeatedly hits ‘red level’ overload
This is despite the annual winter flu surge still weeks away.
Taking the keys to the conservation kingdom
ANALYSIS: Land sales dominated the debate, but the bigger question is who gets to unlock the future of conservation.
Senior detective used police access to escort convicted sex offender son from court
A senior detective used a police access card to scan his just convicted son out of a court building and into an area off limits to the public, meaning he avoided media waiting outside to photograph him.
Colonial-style ‘model village’ in sought-after Christchurch suburb snapped up by owner-occupiers
Two of the 13 homes in Brooksfield’s new Cashmere Gardens remain unsold.
From ‘lemons’ to ‘absolute winners’: How three generations built a Christchurch apple empire
Three generations of the Malcolm family are still working this family apple orchard in Belfast, even as the surrounding land is increasingly swallowed up by housing.
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Blood, sweat and rentals: How a couple built their retirement dream
After two-and-a-half decades of DIY and managing rentals in Te Kūiti, the Brandons have put it all into their dream retirement home.
‘It’s just wrong’: Cheap, fast footpath fix lands councillor in legal hot water
Waikato District Council has launched legal action against a sitting councillor because he was too quick to fix a dangerous footpath.
Waikato man’s 20-year fight for Thailand’s most vulnerable children
Writer Sue Hoffart visits her former schoolmate in Western Thailand, where he manages an ever-expanding charitable project.
A woman with innate elegance and a drive to organise
From supporting breastfeeding to running memorable corporate events, Yvonne Foreman (1938-2026) fitted plenty into her years.
Taxpayer ATMs and councillor conduct: Letters to the editor
Minister Shane Jones’ travel spending and complaints about a South Waikato councillor got people writing.
Days of Future Past: An illicit raffle at the trotting club
It was in aid of a new Catholic school, but that didn’t stop its proponents from being charged.
A plan to save a buck that didn’t work
OPINION: I’d envisaged a marathon drive to and from Wellington, trying to save on accommodation, but a refuelling disaster got in a way.
$27m pricetag sinks mooted name change for long-delayed national ticketing system
A mooted name change for long-delayed national ticketing system Motu Move - already budgeted to cost $1.36 billion - has been canned after Transport Minister Chris Bishop discovered it could cost $27.3 million and push the project back a further 12 months.
Labour gets ready to rally this weekend as it prepares for the campaign trail
The party will hold its congress at Wellington’s convention centre this weekend
No favourites as councillors strip wording from Lake Karāpiro plan
Powerboats and rowers will continue to co-exist on the lake after councillors rejected wording that seemed to suggest non-motorised users would be prioritised.
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Echo Chamber: Is this a policy platform or a debating chamber?
The government might have been better off spending less time talking about opposition policies and more time brushing up on its own.
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending June 26
It’s all about insurance.

What’s the greatest HBO show of all time?
Ten Spinoff writers make their cases for the greatest Home Box Office (HBO) Original of all time + vote for your winner.
Police commissioner investigation: Who knew what, and when?
Police are refusing to say how long an investigation into the country’s top cop has been going on for.
‘Everyone should just read, full stop’: Delaney Davidson’s books confessional
‘Finding our own moral compass in confusing times has got to be good for us. It almost feels like a reclaiming movement.’

The cost of being: A parent with ‘not enough money coming in for daily life’
‘I can’t even imagine how terrifying life must be for the people worse off than me.’

She called the police for help – they banned her from her own home
The IPCA’s latest report raises questions about police dealing with family harm.

Chris Bishop moves fast. It’s his super power and Achilles heel
He’s powerful and polarising and he would really like his mic to work.

A fashion critic’s guide to the best (and worst) kits at the Fifa World Cup
From ‘fabulously ornate’ to ‘this looks like something excavated from the back of my fridge’.

When women are ignored and disbelieved every day, what options do we have left?
A disturbing incident detailed in a newly released IPCA report is part of a pattern that goes back years, across the criminal justice system.