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Everything you need to know about changes to Jobseeker
Explainer - Thousands of young people will no longer be eligible for Jobseeker payments. Here's what we know. Audio
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How fake doctors are trying to sell you weight loss drugs
8 Oct 2025Explainer - The popularity of Wegovy and Ozempic has seen a flood of ads pop up. Who can you trust?
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What Auckland's new housing plan means for the city's future
7 Oct 2025Explainer - After raucous debate, the council has approved housing intensification - but what will that look like?
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What are the 10 warning signs of dementia?
6 Oct 2025Explainer - With cases on the rise in New Zealand, what should families be looking for?
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
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'Vague threat' - Trump tariff talk takes aim at NZ film industry
1 Oct 2025Explainer - Donald Trump wants a 100 percent tariff on "foreign movies" made outside the US. What would that do to NZ's film industry? Audio
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Digital driver licences are coming - how will they work?
30 Sep 2025Explainer - The government aims to introduce digital driver licences by the end of the year. But are they safe - and will everyone have to use them? Video
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What sick leave and holiday changes could mean for you
24 Sep 2025Explainer - The government has announced sweeping plans to change leave rules. How will it work?
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Is paracetamol safe? What New Zealand says about Trump's claims
23 Sep 2025Explainer - Donald Trump claims paracetamol causes autism, while the US has also made cuts to vaccine access and research. What could it all mean for NZ? Audio
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Why are New Zealand musicians leaving Spotify?
17 Sep 2025Explainer - Top New Zealand bands like Tiki Taane and The Bats are leaving Spotify behind. Why?
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How does the RNZ-Reid Research political polling work?
16 Sep 2025Explainer - RNZ-Reid Research's latest political poll is out today. But what goes into taking a poll? Here's what you need to know.
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Why our police don't wear body cameras, and if that will change
9 Sep 2025Explainer - Officers around the world wear body cameras to record incidents. But why not here?
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The great methane debate explained
4 Sep 2025Explainer - A major decision is about to be announced by the PM, but what does it mean and why does it matter?
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Will we get four-year Parliamentary terms soon?
3 Sep 2025Explainer - Parliament will soon take up whether to put longer terms to a referendum. Here's where it stands so far.
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What's going on with the Reserve Bank?
Explainer - What on Earth is going on with the Reserve Bank and who is involved in the saga? Audio
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What 'continuous vetting' means for Kiwis in the US
28 Aug 2025Explainer - If you're thinking about going over to the United States as more than a tourist, be ready for an ever-changing reality.
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What is the sovereign citizen movement?
Explainer - A man accused of killing two police officers in Australia has been called a "sovereign citizen". But what is the movement about? Audio
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What can you do if you're publicly shamed?
24 Aug 2025Explainer : Naming and shaming, false rumours or a photo that upends your life - is there anything you can do about it?
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How much do teachers actually earn, anyway?
19 Aug 2025Explainer - Claims by Judith Collins on teachers' pay fired up the debate recently. How much do teachers earn, and what's the current offer to change that?
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'Build back better' - How the road to Piha was finally restored
19 Aug 2025Explainer - More than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle, the popular main road to Auckland's Piha is opening again. Here's how they did it. Audio
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'Justice' or 'vengeance'? Why sex offender name suppression is changing
11 Aug 2025Explainer - A recently passed law aims to give victims of sexual offences more control over name suppression orders. Audio
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What we know so far about new road user charges
7 Aug 2025Explainer - The government calls it the biggest change to road funding in 50 years. But what are these RUCs that will replace the petrol tax? Audio
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Our hottest destinations are set to start charging foreign tourists - here's why
Explainer - If you're coming to New Zealand as a tourist to check out some of our most famous attractions, get ready to pay a little more for the privilege.
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What's replacing NCEA and how to have your say
4 Aug 2025Explainer - The system is going away - but what's taking its place? Here's what we know so far. Audio
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What would New Zealand recognising Palestinian statehood mean?
Explainer - World leaders are moving toward accepting the idea of Palestinian statehood. What does it mean if New Zealand does? Audio
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What you need to know about why nurses are striking
29 Jul 2025Explainer - Nurses and midwives held a strike for 24 hours in protests over staffing levels and pay. Here's what you need to know. Audio
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How the government wants to change how we vote
30 Jul 2025Explainer - The Electoral Amendment Bill has had its first reading in Parliament. But what does it actually say? Audio
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AI and public submissions - What you need to know
25 Jul 2025Explainer - Submissions have been soaring for legislation, and AI is being used more and more. But what does that mean?
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All the changes to schools so far this year - and what's coming next
22 Jul 2025Explainer - It's been a busy year so far for education policy, with a series of announcements by the government and curriculum changes.
Top News stories
- Regional jobs no easy fix for Jobseeker benefit squeeze
- Whakaari eruption survivor recalls extreme pain while being hit by steam, rocks
- University of Canterbury first-years forced to hunt for flats, as halls fill up
- Israel, Hamas have reached an agreement. What does this mean for Gaza peace plan?
- Te Pāti Māori to 'steady the waka' in discipline, policy focused reset, co-leaders say
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