RNZ National

rnz.co.nzadded August 2026

'Suicidal' mental health patient was safe in respite care - coroner

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa3d ago

'Suicidal' mental health patient was safe in respite care - coroner Warning: This story discusses suicide.

Researcher calls for Māori-specific strategy to eliminate tuberculosis

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa3d ago

Researcher calls for Māori-specific strategy to eliminate tuberculosis Researchers say New Zealand needs a Māori-specific strategy to eliminate tuberculosis or TB, after a review found the current...

RSA audit finds 'significant governance mistakes, failures', but no evidence of fraud

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

RSA audit finds 'significant governance mistakes, failures', but no evidence of fraud A review has found no evidence of fraud or misappropriation by an RSA that used poppy trust funds to prop up...

Parliamentary committee echoes calls for greater oversight of animal welfare system

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

A parliamentary committee has partially endorsed concerns raised by tens of thousands of petitioners, recommending the government investigate improvements to animal welfare oversight.

Loafers Lodge fire trial: Survivor recounts rescue from burning building

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

A elderly Loafers Lodge resident says he owes his life to firefighters who rescued him. The claim comes on the fourth day of the manslaughter trial of four people involved in the operation and...

Southland District Council seeks to revoke resource consent for slink skin factory

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

The Southland District Council is fighting in the Environment Court to strip a slink skin factory of its resource consent, arguing repeated breaches have harmed the environment and neighbouring...

Serial rapist, convicted murderer Malcolm Rewa appeals for earlier release

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

One of the country's worst serial rapists is appealing to remain eligible for release next year. In April, Malcolm Rewa was sentenced at the Auckland High Court to 10 years in prison, after...

Plan to evict Whangārei rough sleepers from disused sports ground put on hold - mayor

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Controversial plans to evict rough sleepers from a disused sports ground in Whangārei have put on hold, mayor Ken Couper says.

FENZ crews secure perimeter around vast Lake Whakatipu fire

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Firefighters have contained at least 80 percent of the perimeter around a vast scrub fire on Cecil and Walter Peak Stations, near Queenstown.

Are you feeling wealthier?

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Are you feeling wealthier? Stats NZ has released updated national accounts data that shows household wealth slipped in the June quarter, although we are still better off than a year ago.

Whangārei rough sleepers braced for eviction, as deadline arrives

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Rough sleepers living at a disused Whangārei sports ground are still waiting to find out if an eviction order due to take effect on Thursday will be put on hold.

Pacific women's squads packed with NRL experience for Rugby League World Cup

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa have named experienced players in their squads for the women's competition at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) which kicks off next week.

Body found at Christchurch property believed to be missing man Braydon Hepworth

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Police have found a body believed to be missing Christchurch man Braydon Hepworth. Several search warrants were carried out in Christchurch on Thursday in relation to the disappearance of the...

NZ Rugby seeks High Court injunction to block PNG Chiefs name

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

The simmering trademark dispute between New Zealand Rugby and Papua New Guinea's incoming NRL franchise has erupted into a legal battle after NZR filed a High Court injunction to stop the new club...

Pacific losses go far beyond money, climate champion tells regional symposium

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

The Pacific political champion for loss and damage has told a Pacific symposium that the region losses from climate impacts go far beyond money.

Government probes 'nasty' dog care services, proposes confinement fines

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

The government is looking to better equip animal welfare inspectors to penalise dog owners whose animals are harmed by prolonged confinement in crates or kennels.

Whangārei rough sleepers' eviction may be paused

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

A Northland MP says a huge amount of work is going on behind the scenes to help rough sleepers due to be evicted from a disused sports ground on Thursday - but more time is needed to find homes for...

National promises random drug testing for jobseeker beneficiaries

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

National promises random drug testing for jobseeker beneficiaries National is promising to introduce random drug testing for those on the jobseeker benefit to ensure they're "ready for work".

Rabuka plays down coalition tensions over Fiji referendum date

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is downplaying tensions within his coalition over his unilateral decision to announce the date for the country's first-ever national referendum ahead of an...

Northland teacher David Cowan jailed for indecent acts against three girls

RNZ Nationalby RNZ; Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa4d ago

David Cowan was praised as a gifted educator and fluent speaker of te reo Māori, building a career teaching in remote communities where teachers were hard to find.