National

Ethnic Communities Minister Mark Mitchell has labelled Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki's latest social media comments to "purge" Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims from New Zealand as the "actions of a scared bully".

A scrutiny hearing at Parliament devolved into a rowdy spat with accusations of lying, cries of hypocrisy and a demand that the minister "shush".

The family of an 11-year-old autistic girl who was mistaken for an adult, restrained and injected with drugs at a Waikato Hospital says it's had a "lasting and traumatic impact".

The push for more international visitors will not come at any cost, the tourism and hospitality minister says.

An extension to pharmacy services that allows them to directly prescribe some common treatments is set for a funding boost.

Armed police were called to a Christchurch street after a person was reported to have been seriously injured with a weapon.

The owner of a dog hit and killed by a vehicle in Christchurch was "in disbelief" after learning an NZTA contractor had dumped its body in a skip.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop - who previously cast doubt on fuel taxes rising next year - says after the Iran peace deal they are still possible.