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Desperate motorists stranded for hours abandon cars after serious crash closes SH1

Motorists heading south are being urged to expect delays and avoid travel.

Black Caps v England: Nicholls, Ravindra stabilise NZ after early wickets

All the action from day three of the second test, at The Oval.

Z Energy boss on why NZ dodged fuel shortages — and why pump prices may stay high for a while

There will be an increased premium on energy security, Z Energy CEO Lindis Jones says.

UK PM Starmer says he'll fight for Labour leadership as rival's win fuels showdown

Andy Burnham is widely expected to move against Sir Keir Starmer in the coming days.

Five stores still serving as Burger Burger fights for survival

Administrator Gareth Hoole says about 80 jobs could be saved under his rescue plan.

Welcome to the Herald's new app - now you can make the news your own

The Herald your way - our new app launches today and puts you in control of your news.

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Church plan for low-cost cafe to feed hundreds shunned by locals

Browns Bay locals took to Facebook to share concern about the type of people "free food" would attract.

US-Iran talks postponed as Israeli military strikes in Lebanon

Planned talks in Switzerland between Iran and the United States over their efforts to reach a permanent end to the Iran war delayed.

Air Force plane finds fisherman missing for a week in 4m dinghy

Nearby fishing vessels were able to pick the man up in the northern Cook Islands.

'Darling sister': Dame Jools Topp celebrated in laughter and song

Members of the public, fellow artists, friends and family gathered to celebrate her life this afternoon.

Major emergency response underway after Gisborne crash

A major response by St John is underway after a "traffic-related incident" in the Gisborne region.

'Dumb, racist stuff': Mayor on NZ First campaign to scrap Māori board

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says Wellington should "butt out of our business" as the city is capable of making its own decisions.

Driver, 83, charged months after fatal Auckland café crash

Sarah Clark, 44, died and two others were injured in March when a car mounted the kerb outside a North Shore café.

Person injured after helicopter crashes at Auckland's Dairy Flat

FENZ said it was alerted to a crash north of Auckland just before 4pm on Friday afternoon.

Witness describes 'scary' hot air balloon crash in Methven

Around 10 hot air balloons were launched from the showgrounds on Methven Chertsey Rd shortly before 8.30am to celebrate the return of Methven's Fire & Ice festival.

Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke confirms party, decries 'tribalism'

Hauraki-Waikato MP ends speculation about committing to Te Pāti Māori in the upcoming election firing shots at divisions within te ao Māori.

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Where All Whites coach could make changes for massive Egypt match

ANALYSIS: The saying goes you should never change a winning team. But what about one that drew?

Open home planner: From surf bum hang out to ultimate seaside retreat

Raglan used to be the place for surf bums and arty types. Those folks are still there, but so are the retirees and the families.

From brain drain to brain gain? Aussie investor predicts talent exodus to NZ after tax changes

The rapid-fire sale highlights an escalating trend: Australian buyers with deep, Sydney-sized pockets are flooding the NZ market, with half of one agent's sales now to Aussies.

‘You will not see your 35th birthday’: He lost more than 200kg to save his life

Llewellyn Davies says he went from Jabba the Hutt to Tinkerbell - and ran a half marathon.

What crypto and property investors sometimes have in common

The sunk-cost fallacy can be a powerful force.

Rare card found in NZ store sells to NFL player for $64k: ‘It’s a bull market’

One of only 150 rare Magic: The Gathering cards in the world was pulled at a Hobby Lords shop - an NZ business that is bucking all the trends in a tough economic environment.

‘I wouldn’t go again’: Pensioner’s stadium view obscured by flame thrower

Murray Pashby says he had an obstructed view of kicks, scrums and tries at a recent Crusaders game, and got nowhere with his complaints. So he asked Stuff for help.

The big questions ahead of Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad naming

There is plenty of intrigue ahead of Monday’s squad naming in Feilding.

The 90-minute habit: The weekly workout slashing the risk of stroke and dementia

A major 30-year study reveals the massive longevity benefits of combining cardio with strength training.

How the once struggling Steel have turned it around

The Southern Steel haven’t made an ANZ Premiership final since 2018.

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What three years of polling data tells us about Election 2026

The sour public mood that swept Labour from office hasn’t disappeared. It only moved on.

Death of after-work drinks linked to bevy of bars on market

Not too long ago hospitality operators would be fighting to get into a fully kitted out bar along Wellington’s entertainment strip. Not so these days.

For the Love of Wellington: Hurricanes star says let’s win it for the struggling capital

A drought-breaking Super Rugby title will not only be just reward for a dominant Hurricanes side, but also provide the region with a much-needed pick-me-up.

New Zealand’s politics has a prosperity problem

OPINION: The latest polling shows voters remain squeezed today and pessimistic about tomorrow. That should worry not just the Government, but the entire political class.

RMA reform could provide relief for reluctant owners of heritage properties

Chris Bishop explains why he was constrained from de-listing a heritage home - and how upcoming reform could change that.

National gathers as sub‑30 polling shadows party conference

ANALYSIS: National MPs and officeholders will gather in Lower Hutt this weekend.

‘A five-year nightmare’: The man who lost $400k then died by suspected suicide

David McDonald met Lisa Jones in a cancer support group. Six months later he was dead, after giving her everything he had.

The big tech fail: Anger at MBIE is justified, but there are more risks for Government

OPINION: Immigration NZ’s Biometric Capability Upgrade (BCU) will forever be branded as the kind of bungling failure that’s the epitome of bureaucratic ineptitude.

Inside New Zealand’s booming obsession with crime fiction

Why Kiwis love the thrill of a thriller and 5 reads to enjoy now.

Why Dave Rennie took his All Blacks announcement to rugby heartland, and who are his new caps?

When NZ Rugby chair David Kirk reads out 34 names in the first squad of 2026 on Monday, it will be at Feilding Yellows Rugby Club at the new coach’s insistence.

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‘A five-year nightmare’: The man who lost $400k then died by suspected suicide

David McDonald met Lisa Jones in a cancer support group. Six months later he was dead, after giving her everything he had.

One of New Zealand’s biggest sports bar to open opposite Christchurch’s new stadium

The sports bar will cater to concert-goers, punters and sports fans, positioning itself as the perfect place to meet before walking across the road to One NZ Stadium.

$4.7 million economic boost for Christchurch as 6000 out-of-towners descend on city for sold out Warriors match

As the Warriors sell out One NZ Stadium, Christchurch's bars are transforming into Warriors territory - and rugby union is making room.

Buyers snap up Christchurch’s Downtown apartments, with luxury 470m2 penthouse tipped to cost at least $5m

Buyers are snapping up apartments in Christchurch’s upcoming $130 million Downtown precinct, although deep pockets will be needed to secure a penthouse.

‘A lot of financial stress’: UC students fear scholarship fallout after lab flood

More than a hundred students are understood to have their work affected.

'No coach should have to put up with that': Rob Penney on the Crusaders’ soft exit and stinging criticism

Departing Crusaders coach says the barbs hurt in 2024 but he feels he is leaving with the Super Rugby side in good heart, as he hands the reins to Scott Hansen.

What three years of polling data tells us about Election 2026

The sour public mood that swept Labour from office hasn’t disappeared. It only moved on.

Christchurch’s ‘extraordinary’ red zone offers a chance to put wrongs right

The 4ha Ihutai reserve was taken for the Bromley sewage treatment plant 70 years ago and desecrated. Redress may be nearby.

Cafe serving 10-shot coffee that comes with a health warning

A Blenheim cafe has offered up the challenge of drinking 1.5 litres of coffee alongside a supersized breakfast of about 3000 calories.

‘It’s his State of Origin’: Warriors prop’s long-awaited home game in Christchurch

Tanner Stowers-Smith was a Super Rugby spectator at Christchurch’s new stadium a fortnight ago - now he’s set to star on the same pitch in his hometown.

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Bridesmaids, chokers, nearly men? Chiefs aim to boot them all to touch

After falling at the final hurdle the last three years, plenty of pain from the past will be carried into the hotly-anticipated decider against the Hurricanes.

It’s this time boys, Chiefs fans tell their team

With the Chiefs chasing their first title in 13 years, supporters are leaving nothing to chance, including decorating entire houses in team colours.

Hospital park and ride concept shifts gears

Public demands for a park and ride option to ease car parking grid-lock at Waikato Hospital are gathering speed.

On the front line - Kiwi soldiers test mettle before big exercise

The explosion tears through the barrier in flash of light that means obliteration for anything around it.

Hamilton balloon crashes with two people on board

The balloon is most often seen over Waikato skies but had travelled down to Methven for an event.

Into the cold: Inside the army’s Waiouru war games

‘Just stick on a puffer jacket and away you go,’ a sniper says.

‘If it moved and made noise he was interested’

Brendan McVeigh (1967-2026) worked hard, fixed things, built things and quietly looked after everyone around him.

Tent-gate and natural justice: Letters to the editor

Labour at Fieldays and what to do about boy racers are among today’s letter topics.

A dead rat, a toolkit and flying solo

OPINION: I’ve been running the show on my own for a long time, which was never in the script.

Two teams, one final, and a slightly pathetic 45-year grudge

OPINION: Trapped in enemy territory, a Chiefs fan waits for his two worlds to collide.

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Echo Chamber: The scores, scrapes and sparks of scrutiny week

Scrutiny week is an endurance sport where goals aren’t scored by kicking balls, but by busting them.

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending June 19

Wellington goes wild for poetry.

Beyond the beach: Fiji’s best hiking adventures

New Zealanders know their way around a great walk – and as it turns out, so does Fiji.

Review: What the Hell Happened at Woofington’s is NZ’s latest true crime must-watch

How a luxury dog kennel in a remote castle became the subject of a gripping three-part documentary series.

The cost of being: A 20-something professional living with their parents

‘I honestly don’t know what I’m saving for… I don’t think I will ever afford a house, so I guess travel?’

Major failures led to an autistic 11-year-old being misidentified, restrained and sedated at Waikato Hospital

Two new reports find that major failures led to an autistic 11-year-old being misidentified, restrained and sedated at Waikato Hospital.

New Zealand just posted its best economic results in three years. But there’s a catch

Our economy was healing. Then the Iran war began.

The crunchy peanut butters of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

After stringent testing we’ve arrived at a list that is in some ways predictable, and in others deeply unsettling.

Dating Files: A 45-year-old who’s never made it to a third date

A 45-year-old IT specialist has given up on dating entirely.

One MP, One Pint: Paul Goldsmith on being a victim of Tova O’Brien

The justice minister reflects on the highs and lows of five terms in parliament, and considers buying The Spinoff.