More than 5000 complaints of shoplifting below $500 were not forwarded for investigation while a controversial police directive was in place, documents released to RNZ reveal.
Civil Defence officials say tsunami activity around New Zealand resulting from the giant quake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula is "still a threat to human life".
Labour MP Willie Jackson has accused the government of trying to rig next year's election through its move to block people from being able to enrol for 12 days before voting day.
All NZ coastal areas are covered by a warning of tsunami activity following Russia's powerful quake. People are warned not to be complacent and to stay away from coastlines until alerts are lifted.
A "distracted" midwife who was "rushing" to complete administrative tasks after a birth left the room for 25 minutes - only to come back and find the baby unresponsive.
A document, quietly uploaded online, shows ministers agreed to lift the maximum annual fee for chairs of governance boards from $90,000 to about $162,000.