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New Zealand
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20-year-old man dies after staff miss major red flag
20 Jan 2026Caregivers at the secure residence failed to notice the man was dying from a ruptured bowel.
Auckland duty lawyers consider further industrial action over pay, conditions
Plans for a Super Liquor store in Lake Hāwea was approved despite record community objections
Pacific
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Another New Caledonia agreement signed in Paris
20 Jan 2026The new agreement still has to go through the French parliament and a referendum vote in New Caledonia.
US warns China targeting Pacific democracies as COFA ties deepen
South Korea's WBC hopefuls assemble in Saipan as Dodgers' Kim leads early camp
Sport
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Lulu Sun loses to qualifier at Australian Open
20 Jan 2026New Zealand's only singles player at Melbourne has been knocked out in the first round.
UFC: Predictions, previews and wish-list for 2026
Women's captain departs AFL club after men's offensive Silly Saturday costumes
Politics
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'War on nature': Group says planning changes put wildlife at risk
20 Jan 2026Forest and Bird has criticised the removal of a criteria to show mining projects deliver a national or public benefit.
When will Election Day be, and how is it decided?
Invercargill councillors reject claims they failed former Mayor Tim Shadbolt
World
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Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst dies, aged 70
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023, Hirst was also a songwriter on many of the band's hits.
NZ agencies have eye on 'largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years'
Kiwi photographer Max Alexander turns camera on 'planetary defence', space junk
Comment & Analysis
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Next few months crucial for yellow-legged hornet eradication
20 Jan 2026In the three months since the yellow-legged hornet was first detected in Auckland, the eradication response is showing real signs of progress.
Deep sea mining is the next geopolitical frontline – and the Pacific is in the crosshairs
Sexualised deepfakes on X are a sign of things to come. NZ law is already way behind
Local Democracy Reporting
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What new granny flats rules mean for costs, consents and rates
20 Jan 2026You no longer need a consent to build a backyard flat, but there are still costs and regulations.
Northland's Punaruku gets more than whole summer's rain during weekend weather bomb
Fisherman fears Lake Heron rules could go too far
In Depth
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How poo-detecting dogs can help native birds flourish
9 Jan 2026Kiwi have started to hatch on Waiheke Island and may thrive with the help of special detection dogs helping eliminate the last of the island's pests.
Landmark integrity probe into Yachting NZ drags into second year
A permit for trapping feral cats may get much easier to obtain after a U-turn by DOC
Te Ao Māori
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Māori local councillors set direction for the next three years.
20 Jan 2026Members of Te Maruata met in Wellington in December 2025, with Dinnie Moeahu and Aubrey Ria elected as co-chairs for the next three years.
Meet the rangatahi Māori breaking ground in both law and fashion
'He lived fully. He loved deeply': Tributes for journalist and playwright Aroha Awarau
Business
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'A significant drag': Why Fletcher Building is selling its construction arm
20 Jan 2026Fletcher Building will receive $316m from the sale, which includes Brian Perry Civil, Higgins and Fletcher Construction Major Projects.
NPD–Gull merger plan lands at Commerce Commission
Fletcher Building to sell construction arm to Vinci
Country
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'It's a little taonga': Saving one of our rarest plants
9 Jan 2026A critically endangered forget-me-not is being saved from the brink of extinction.
Queensland fruit fly could have 'massive impact' on fruit and vegetable crops
Dairy prices reverse course, with demand rising
Environment
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'How do the people break through?' - third of Māori land considered landlocked
12 Jan 2026Landlocked whenua has been identified as one of the biggest challenges to public access in 2025.
'Darkwaves': New research sheds light on underwater phenomenon
Nitrates in water: ECan's rule-making fell short of law over allowing discharges, High Court rules
Media & Technology
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EB Games heaving with crowds as gamers snatch final deals
15 Jan 2026Huge lines formed outside EB Games stores after it was announced all NZ shops would close at the end of the month.
'Dilbert’ comic creator Scott Adams dies
Stuff files court injunction over Neighbourly data breach on dark web
Identity
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How did we become known as 'Kiwis'?
16 Oct 2024How did residents of Aotearoa New Zealand come to be called by the name of a flightless brown bird? Audio
Turning Palmerston North into the 'capital of drag' in Aotearoa
X-plainer: Who are Generation X?
IndoNZ
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Experienced envoy named India's next high commissioner to NZ
20 Jan 2026Muanpuii Saiawi is expected to take up her posting in Wellington shortly.
Māori delegation eyes deeper business, cultural ties with India
Unpacking the details of New Zealand’s free trade deal with India