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New Zealand
New Zealand headlines with summaries.
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Former Gloriavale teacher applauds 'courageous government department'
19 Dec 2025The Secretary for Education has cancelled Gloriavale School's registration, effective from 23 January. Audio
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The best music of 2025
19 Dec 2025How to choose favourites from the millions of songs, albums and musical experiences of the past year? RNZ's music experts narrow it down.
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Parents of suicide victim call for better information sharing
19 Dec 2025The Dazas' 13-year-old daughter died by suspected suicide after making calls to multiple helplines. Audio
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More than $1m worth in luxury cars, property and vapes seized
18 Dec 2025Police had been investigating the proceeds of a criminal's drug-selling activities across the North Island.
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More total fire bans take effect in Hawke's Bay
19 Dec 2025With no rainfall forecast for weeks, the risk is great for a fire getting out of control, a fire chief says.
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Man convicted of starting Loafers Lodge fire to be sentenced
19 Dec 2025Esarona David Lologa, 50, was found guilty of five counts of murder.
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Community cheers as booze back on tap at hotel bar
19 Dec 2025A popular Wairarapa coastal watering hole is back in business.
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Principals say ERO not giving schools credit for challenges
19 Dec 2025Leaders at one school said ERO reviewers told them they had witnessed excellent teaching but could not say that in the school's report because its attendance and achievement rates needed to improve. Audio
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How to clean your kids' backpacks and lunch boxes now it's school holidays
19 Dec 2025Leaking water bottles, pen ink, the rotting juice from an old banana, school backpacks and lunch boxes can get pretty grotty.
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New financial support scheme for schools facing asbestos sand clean-up
The Ministry of Education says a fixed sum has been set aside for a "one-off, time-limited" support scheme for schools facing hardship because of contamination costs.
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Man who killed five in Loafers Lodge fire handed life sentence
19 Dec 2025Esarona David Lologa will spend at least 22 years in jail.
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Fears over plan to ditch flu tracking tool
The Ministry of Health is not renewing its contract for the FluTracking tool, which surveys about 40,000 people year-round, in a bid to cut costs. Audio
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3000 hectares returned in one of country's longest land disputes
18 Dec 2025Māori landowners will have the land returned, and receive $420 million in compensation, in a landmark agreement with the Crown, ending questions going back to the 1830s. Audio
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Labour, National clash over what economic rebound shows
'Better times are ahead,' the finance minister says, while Labour is arguing things are still worse.
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Banks hike fixed home loan interest rates
18 Dec 2025More banks are joining in as banks move to raise some mortgage rates.
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The big switch: Should households still use gas?
Faced with dwindling gas supplies, manufacturers are shutting down, but more than 2000 homes were hooked up this year.
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Why Auckland Airport will look a little different this Christmas
The tens of thousands of people expected to pass through Auckland Airport in the next weeks may notice a few changes. Audio
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Man killed, second person injured at Hamilton address
Cordons are in place after a man was fatally injured at a Hamilton Lake address.
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Why McSkimming's prosecution was so 'unique'
The disgraced former deputy police commissioner was sentenced to home detention after pleading guilty to the possession of child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.
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'This year's been diabolical': Oyster farmers still waiting for compensation package
18 Dec 2025More than a thousand cubic metres of sewage overflowed from a Watercare pump station in late October. Audio
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Corrections boss ordered to obey law or face contempt of court
18 Dec 2025Under New Zealand law, prisoners are entitled to at least one hour of physical exercise a day. Audio
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Gloriavale Christian School registration cancelled
18 Dec 2025The school board said it would challenge the decision by the Secretary for Education.
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John Campbell returns to RNZ as Morning Report co-host
He'll join Ingrid Hipkiss on the flagship news programme next year.
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Concerned family roster themselves on to care for elderly relative
18 Dec 2025The family of an elderly woman with severe dementia say they had to be at hospital every day to ensure she was fed, medicated and showered. Audio
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- How to handle awkward interactions this Christmas
- Three youths arrested after Christmas Eve robbery in Hamilton
