National
Government considered asking churches to help pay Royal Commission costs
The government considered asking churches to help pay for the Royal Commission into historic abuse in care, as it grappled with the inquiry's skyrocketing spending.
Just-released documents also show… Audio
Smelly issue: Two different rubbish systems divide Auckland
It has been more than 10 years since Auckland became a super city. But there is one smelly issue that still divides the city - rubbish collection.
Residents in several pockets of the city have to buy… Video, Audio
Unemployment looms as Marsden Pt oil refinery winds down
Northland's jobless rate could be set to skyrocket as one of the region's biggest employers winds down.
Workers at the Marsden Point oil refinery are bracing for hundreds of jobs to go next year… Audio
NZ officials meet with Chinese Embassy as tensions escalate
New Zealand officials have met with the Chinese Embassy amid escalating tensions between the two countries.
The government this week issued a charged statement, in line with the United States and… Audio
Almost half of internal charges against prisoners not sticking
Almost half of prisoners are being let off internal disciplinary charges while violence against officers is on the rise.
The union representing prison officers says the last few years have brought in… Audio
Who's Eating NZ: Call for strategy to ‘feed five million first’
New Zealand produces enough food to feed 40 million people - but many living here still go hungry every day.
That's spurring calls for a national food strategy to "feed the five million first" before… Audio
Whakaari/White Island: Multimillion-dollar fund paid out to charged companies
Whakaari / White Island tourism companies charged with breaching health and safety laws have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funding since the tragedy.
Most of the money has come… Audio
Whakaari: Money given to companies 'unfair' - Lawyer for victims
A lawyer representing some Whakaari eruption victims is furious the tourism companies being prosecuted over the tragedy have received hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money.
The 2019… Audio
Ashburton Mayor's advice for flooded towns
While the South Island's West Coast and Marlborough copped the worse of torrential rain and floods over the weekend, there was hint of deja vu in the Ashburton district.
The Ashburton River surged in… Audio
Scepticism over government three waters plan
Scepticism is being expressed about the government plans to spend $2.5 billion dollars to ensure the Three Waters reform programme leaves no council worse off.
The scheme will see the country's 67… Audio
Still no reunion for baby orca and its mother
A baby orca has been centre of media attention this week after being found stranded and separated from its pod on Sunday afternoon. Animal rescue teams have been caring for the Orca named Toa for the… Audio
NZ cat food imported from across the world
Is your cat's diet more exotic than your own? After looking through decades worth of data, RNZ In-Depth journalist Farah Hancock has found that we're importing cat food from far flung places. And… Audio
Police release update on Hamilton shooting
Police have released more information about the shooting of an armed man dead in the Hamilton suburb of Hillcrest on Wednesday night.
Reporter Jordan Bond spoke to Philippa Tolley. Audio
Plunket CEO on Well Child Tamariki Ora review
Plunket looks set for a shake-up, as the government promises to make significant changes to health services for under-fives.
A review of the Well Child Tamariki Ora programme has found it's falling… Audio
Mission to reunite baby orca with family goes global
The mission to reunite a young orca with its family has become an international effort.
Up and down the country, whale watchers are on the lookout for the orca pod, and the Department of… Audio
Who's Eating NZ: Have we reached peak milk?
Dairy exports earned New Zealand almost $16 billion last year, but can it continue?
Dairy giant Fonterra has flagged milk production is likely to flatten, or even decline.
So what's the plan?
… Audio
Whole energy sector needs to change to fix coal problem - campaigner
Despite declaring a climate emergency last year, Aotearoa imported more than one million tonnes of low grade coal from Indonesia.
Imports of the fossil fuel in 2020 were six times larger than in… Audio
Watercare opening new treatment plant
Watercare's $145 dollar water treatment plant is opening in Tuakau today and the company insists it is one of the last times it will dip into the Waikato River.
The facility will provide Auckland… Audio
Banks predicting OCR rise on the horizon
Banks ANZ, Westpac and ASB are united in their expectation the official cash rate will be increased earlier than previously expected.
They say it could land as early as late November, when the… Audio
Children's Commissioner warns Royal Commission not to cut corners
The Children's Commissioner is warning that money-saving measures will result in the need for a second Royal Commission into abuse in care.
Ministers removed the current inquiry's ability to… Audio