

Secret greyhound charter plan emerges ahead of racing ban
Just weeks out from the end of greyhound racing in New Zealand, a secretive charter flight plan is raising eyebrows. It’s understood a number of dogs are being prepped for a trip across the ditch before the sport’s banned here. But, why now? What about the welfare of these animals? And is this ju…

Why Auckland FC has captured the city
Football fever is about to hit Auckland like we’ve never seen before. Auckland FC is hosting the Grand Final at Go Media Stadium against Sydney FC on Saturday. It’s the first time New Zealand has hosted an A‑League decider, and the city is on the brink of a huge sporting moment. Today on The …

Why Māori families still have “the talk” about police
It started with a young Māori man trying to help a stranger on the street. He ended up being pinned to the ground, handcuffed, locked in a cell, and a four-year court battle. Jamie Lawry ended up being found not guilty, but the case raises harder questions about racism and systemic bias in the n…

Inside the $2.75 million gang rehab experiment
A Mongrel Mob-run meth rehab programme ended up at the centre of a fierce political fight. After being funded by Jacinda Ardern’s government, the Coalition government turned off the tap for drug rehabilitation programme Kahukura. But behind the politics, did Kahukura actually help people get off …

How much would you pay to sit in Auckland traffic?
If you’ve spent any time on Auckland’s motorways, you’ll know the city’s traffic problem is no joke – and one of the big fixes being talked about is charging people to sit in it. The AA has surveyed its Auckland members on time-of-use charging, and while the results show plenty of scepticism, a lo…

Can Peters' BNZ plan actually work, or is it just campaign theatre?
New Zealand First will campaign on buying back the BNZ bank and making KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth. Winston Peters’ appearance at Trusts Arena in West Auckland at the weekend comes at a time when his party is surging in the polls... He’s also closing in on National leader Christoph…

The hidden costs of AI: Labour, data, and the race to dominate
Artificial intelligence is being sold to us as the future. Faster, smarter, more efficient, maybe even world changing. But as a handful of tech companies race to build ever more powerful AI, there are growing questions about secrecy, exploitation, and the extraordinary concentration of power b…

Bridge or tunnel? Auckland’s second harbour crossing decision looms
Auckland’s long-running second harbour crossing debate is back in the spotlight. It’s a project that politicians love to talk about but have long struggled to deliver - given the complex work, the very high price tag, and the wide range of very heated opinion on what would be best for the City of …

Should New Zealand raise the age of NZ Super?
On paper, New Zealand Super is one of the simplest parts of our welfare system. Most people become eligible at 65, it’s not means tested, and for decades it’s been treated as a kind of social contract: work hard, reach retirement, and the state will be there. But that contract is under growing p…

Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak tests global health response post-Covid
You may have heard there’s a new virus making headlines. Three people have died and several others have fallen ill after an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship. Governments and health agencies around the world are coordinating a mass evacuation of passengers – working together to get peopl…