RNZ National

rnz.co.nzadded August 2026

Home loan rates below 5 percent ‘on borrowed time’

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

Home loan rates under 5 percent are "on borrowed time", the head of one mortgage advice firm says, as bond yields push up around the world.

Mayors left stunned by Government's council amalgamation U-turn

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

Mayors say a decision to delay amalgamation was completely unexpected, and leaves plans - some discussed for years - contingent on an election.

Short reprieve in wind for Ōrewa sauna on the beach

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

Auckland councillor John Watson "in a kind of statement of defiance to my ongoing years" leapt in the sea after a hot sauna at Ōrewa beach last month in late winter. "I'm still here ...

Dannevirke residents demand accountability over state of healthcare

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

Dannevirke locals have echoed calls from other towns in the Tararua region for a return to a local ownership model of healthcare.

Minister refuses to divulge curriculum feedback amid OIA secrecy claims

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

The Education Minister says information about the feedback she personally gave on curriculum changes "does not exist", amid accusations of a culture of secrecy.

What's going on with fuel prices?

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

The cost of fuelling up your car has gone up again, and experts say it's unlikely to drop any time soon.

Family of man who fatally stabbed grandmother tried to get him mental health help

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

Family of man who fatally stabbed grandmother tried to get him mental health help Warning: This story contains content some may find disturbing.

Inquiry finds evacuation took too long after engine fire on Air NZ flight

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa14d ago

Inquiry finds evacuation took too long after engine fire on Air NZ flight An inquiry has found it took too long to evacuate passengers after an engine fire on an Air New Zealand flight in 2024.

Allegations of favouritism, 'unsustainable' workloads at Education Ministry's curriculum division

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Allegations of favouritism, 'unsustainable' workloads at Education Ministry's curriculum division A damning review has found serious problems including allegations of favouritism and lack of public...

Former Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary lion Cleo dies, animal rescue group says

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Former Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary lion Cleo dies, animal rescue group says One of four lions who faced being put down at a Whangārei animal park has died in her sleep, an animal rescue group says.

Auckland Transport explores changes to level crossing after student's death

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Auckland Transport explores changes to level crossing after student's death Two weeks on from a tragedy at a level crossing in Mount Albert, Auckland Transport officials have met with residents to...

Children missing out on eye care due to high costs

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Children missing out on eye care due to high costs A charity says support for children's vision is inadequate.

Glimmer of hope in fight against kauri dieback

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Glimmer of hope in fight against kauri dieback Before vast numbers were felled to build the villas of Ponsonby and Grey Lynn for early European settlers, Auckland's Waitakere Ranges were covered in...

Vanuatu Citizenship Office says Andrew Tate remains a citizen, for now

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

The head of Vanuatu's Citizenship Office says Andrew Tate remains a citizen of Vanuatu, for now. On Monday, ABC Pacific first reported that Tate's passport, which he purchased under the...

How New Zealand’s Asian communities celebrate a mid-autumn festival in spring

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Asian communities nationwide are marking mid-autumn celebrations in their own ways. The celebrations fall on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, a time traditionally associated...

A lot's changed since Xi Jinping's last US state visit. Mostly in China's favour

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

A lot's changed since Xi Jinping's last US state visit. Mostly in China's favour Analysis: When Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Washington this week, he will be sitting down with President Donald...

Grudge led to senseless murder - Crown closes Ellerslie case

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Lok Fung Lorrence Li held a grudge. It was a grudge the Crown says spawned from a chance encounter and would lead to senseless murder.

Nelson court: Parolee Peter Coulsen jailed again after meth crash blamed on rabbit

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

A man with a 44-year conviction history was on parole when he used methamphetamine, drove, and crashed. He blamed the accident on trying to avoid a rabbit on the road.

Naoero tells UN it will withdraw from ICC and takes aim at international seabed mining regulator

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

Naoero tells UN it will withdraw from ICC and takes aim at international seabed mining regulator David Adeang, president of Naoero (formerly Nauru), used a United Nations gathering of world leaders...

'Bright as': Fireball lights up skies above Taranaki Maunga

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa15d ago

'Bright as': Fireball lights up skies above Taranaki Maunga An expert says it's possible a fireball seen over the North Island on Wednesday night left behind space rocks for scientists to examine...