Environment report: Breathe easier, but be careful where you drink from
The latest update on NZ's environment shows people can breathe a little easier, but a substantial proportion of groundwater is failing drinking standards.
National
Officer rammed man with car and rained down punches
Officer rammed man with car and rained down punches
A skateboard-wielding man suspected of family harm and aggravated robbery used his board to smash the windscreen of a police patrol car when officers arrived at an apartment to arrest him.
Man guilty of rape after following Christchurch woman home
Man guilty of rape after following Christchurch woman home
A Christchurch man has been found guilty of abducting and raping a drunk stranger he approached and followed home.
Residents 'in shock' as tornado blasts Levin
Residents 'in shock' as tornado blasts Levin
Levin locals have described a vicious wind that blew out windows, ripped off roofs and left dozens of birds dead.
'Hundreds more' health workers assaulted on job
'Hundreds more' health workers assaulted on job
Fifteen out of 19 health districts saw increases in assaults on staff, according to Health NZ data.
Colonoscopy wait times increase as HNZ funds fewer procedures
Colonoscopy wait times increase as HNZ funds fewer procedures
Wait times for urgent, non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies all progressively worsened last year as Health New Zealand failed to meet demand.
NZ joining arms race with $12b defence spend - professor
NZ joining arms race with $12b defence spend - professor
A law professor says New Zealand has joined the arms race by promising to spend up large on defence.
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Digital tools to ‘fill a gap’ in mental health services
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Digital tools to ‘fill a gap’ in mental health services
Digital tools will play a greater role in the rollout of mental health services for hundreds of thousands of consumers, the mental health minister says.
Govt set for $12b defence investment
Govt set for $12b defence investment
The government will invest $12 billion dollars over the next four years for a "modern, combat-capable" New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
Early vaping research causing concern
Early vaping research causing concern
Researchers are working to find out the long-term health effects of vaping on NZ's young people, who are nearly three times more likely to vape than teenagers in Canada, the US and Australia.
Person jailed for luring workers from Samoa illegally
Person jailed for luring workers from Samoa illegally
A Samoan national has been sentenced to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to 12 representative charges relating to a migrant exploitation scheme.
Large industrial blaze in Christchurch
Large industrial blaze in Christchurch
A large fire in a Christchurch industrial building this afternoon is causing thick black smoke to billow into the air and sweep across the city.
Woman drove drunk while unrestrained nephew fell from car
Woman drove drunk while unrestrained nephew fell from car
A woman who lost her partner at the hands of a drunk driver put her four-year-old nephew’s life at risk when she drove drunk and he fell out of the car after opening the door while unrestrained.
Surgery for facial injuries after alleged assault
Surgery for facial injuries after alleged assault
Auckland Football Club are working to identify and ban anyone responsible for anti-social incidents during Saturday's match against Western Sydney.
Coalition govt retains power in latest poll
Coalition govt retains power in latest poll
Chris Luxon's right-wing New Zealand coalition would earn another term, according to the latest TVNZ poll, its strongest result since taking office in 2023.
'Trust me': Lip filler ordeal leaves woman in hospital
'Trust me': Lip filler ordeal leaves woman in hospital
A woman who was told she had a "gummy smile" and that lip filler would improve its appearance ended up being treated in hospital for damage caused by a blocked blood vessel.
Govt 'dreaming' over massive pine-planting plan
Govt 'dreaming' over massive pine-planting plan
The government claims to be on track for net zero emissions by 2050 but official figures show 280,000ha of public land would need to planted with pines to do it.
Tradie suspended for dodgy bedroom gas cooker
Tradie suspended for dodgy bedroom gas cooker
A tradesman disciplined after he was burned in a fire while altering a gas pipe has fallen foul of regulations again, this time for installing a gas cooker in a bedroom that could have poisoned the...
Waikato's 'sweetheart deal' needs competitive tender - Dunedin MP
Waikato's 'sweetheart deal' needs competitive tender - Dunedin MP
The Greens are urging the government to go back and carry out a competitive tender process as Cabinet considers whether to push ahead with a new Waikato medical school.
NZDF drops entry requirements in bid to boost numbers
NZDF drops entry requirements in bid to boost numbers
The New Zealand Defence Force has made it easier for people to apply for a job in a bid to get more boots on the ground.