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How dangerous is asbestos in coloured sand?
Explainer - Why is asbestos such a worry, and what's the risk after coloured play sand has been revealed to be contaminated? Audio
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What gun reform proposals will change - and what they won't
17 Nov 2025Explainer - How will firearms proposals change access to guns in New Zealand? Here's what you need to know. Audio
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How and why Kelston could be turned into a charter school
5 Nov 2025Explainer - Can a school be 'taken over' by a charter school conversion? Here's what you need to know. Audio
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How porn deepfakes may soon become illegal
4 Nov 2025Explainer - They have been described as a sadistic and degrading weapon - yet in New Zealand, nude deepfakes are not explicitly a crime. Audio
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
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Measles in New Zealand: What you need to know about the deadly virus
22 Oct 2025Explainer: Measles cases may be spreading in the community. Here’s what you need to know about the deadly disease.
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Is wild spring weather the new normal?
31 Oct 2025Explainer - Weather forecasters say the last couple weeks haven't been normal, "even by spring's standards". But why? Audio
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Will New Zealand ever ban fireworks - and should we?
28 Oct 2025Explainer - Every November, talk of banning fireworks sparks up. But despite petitions presented to Parliament, will it happen? Audio
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How Fonterra's $4b deal will change New Zealand
22 Oct 2025Explainer - Why the dairy giant is selling off its iconic brands - and why Winston Peters is angry about it.
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What you need to know about this week's mega strike
20 Oct 2025Explainer - There's a huge strike coming. Who's taking part, why are they protesting and what's so 'mega' about it? Audio
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What to know if you're going to the US in a government shutdown
15 Oct 2025Explainer - What the on-going battle in Washington could mean for New Zealanders. Audio
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Everything you need to know about changes to Jobseeker
Explainer - Thousands of young people will no longer be eligible for Jobseeker payments. Here's what we know. Audio
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How fake doctors are trying to sell you weight loss drugs
8 Oct 2025Explainer - The popularity of Wegovy and Ozempic has seen a flood of ads pop up. Who can you trust?
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What are the 10 warning signs of dementia?
6 Oct 2025Explainer - With cases on the rise in New Zealand, what should families be looking for?
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'Vague threat' - Trump tariff talk takes aim at NZ film industry
1 Oct 2025Explainer - Donald Trump wants a 100 percent tariff on "foreign movies" made outside the US. What would that do to NZ's film industry? Audio
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Digital driver licences are coming - how will they work?
30 Sep 2025Explainer - The government aims to introduce digital driver licences by the end of the year. But are they safe - and will everyone have to use them? Video
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What sick leave and holiday changes could mean for you
24 Sep 2025Explainer - The government has announced sweeping plans to change leave rules. How will it work?
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Is paracetamol safe? What New Zealand says about Trump's claims
23 Sep 2025Explainer - Donald Trump claims paracetamol causes autism, while the US has also made cuts to vaccine access and research. What could it all mean for NZ? Audio
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Why are New Zealand musicians leaving Spotify?
17 Sep 2025Explainer - Top New Zealand bands like Tiki Taane and The Bats are leaving Spotify behind. Why?
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How does the RNZ-Reid Research political polling work?
16 Sep 2025Explainer - RNZ-Reid Research's latest political poll is out today. But what goes into taking a poll? Here's what you need to know.
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Why our police don't wear body cameras, and if that will change
9 Sep 2025Explainer - Officers around the world wear body cameras to record incidents. But why not here?
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The great methane debate explained
4 Sep 2025Explainer - A major decision is about to be announced by the PM, but what does it mean and why does it matter?
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Will we get four-year Parliamentary terms soon?
3 Sep 2025Explainer - Parliament will soon take up whether to put longer terms to a referendum. Here's where it stands so far.
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What's going on with the Reserve Bank?
Explainer - What on Earth is going on with the Reserve Bank and who is involved in the saga? Audio
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What 'continuous vetting' means for Kiwis in the US
28 Aug 2025Explainer - If you're thinking about going over to the United States as more than a tourist, be ready for an ever-changing reality.
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What is the sovereign citizen movement?
Explainer - A man accused of killing two police officers in Australia has been called a "sovereign citizen". But what is the movement about? Audio
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What can you do if you're publicly shamed?
24 Aug 2025Explainer : Naming and shaming, false rumours or a photo that upends your life - is there anything you can do about it?
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How much do teachers actually earn, anyway?
19 Aug 2025Explainer - Claims by Judith Collins on teachers' pay fired up the debate recently. How much do teachers earn, and what's the current offer to change that?
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'Build back better' - How the road to Piha was finally restored
19 Aug 2025Explainer - More than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle, the popular main road to Auckland's Piha is opening again. Here's how they did it. Audio
Top News stories
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- Rescue chopper crew chase down car after laser strike
- Nintendo game away millions of games for free. The risk paid off
- Auckland school returns positive test results for asbestos in play sand
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