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Health Minister Simeon Brown. Photo: Calvin Samuel / RNZ

Health NZ under fire for secrecy over private hospital contracts

Health NZ is refusing to reveal how much it is paying private hospitals to perform elective surgeries under a new national contract - a move critics say makes it impossible to know if taxpayers are getting value for money.

Dog owners to face fines for tying up pets too long

A life-chained dog from South Auckland who was being helped by the charity Chained Dog Awareness...

Dog owners to face fines for tying up pets too long

The government is introducing rules to punish people who endanger the welfare of their dogs by tying them up for too long.

Landlords accused of doing their own healthy homes checks

Student flats on Hyde Street in North Dunedin. Photo: RNZ

Landlords accused of doing their own healthy homes checks

There are calls for a Rental Warrant of Fitness to ensure student flats in North Dunedin are actually complying with Healthy Homes Standards.

Thousands incorrectly told of fines by Ministry of Justice

Thousands incorrectly told of fines by Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice has apologised after a text message about fines was sent to thousands of people.

PM says Iran behind anti-Semitic attacks in Australia

The spate of attacks in recent months has put pressure on the government of Prime...

PM says Iran behind anti-Semitic attacks in Australia

Iran has been blamed for anti-Semitic attacks on Australian soil, resulting in the federal government listing its Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group.

Ferry takes a little lamb

Dave the Lamb on board the Port to Port Ferry with operator Rachel McGregor. Photo: Supplied

Ferry takes a little lamb

An Otago Harbour ferry has advertised an option for passengers to "add a sheep" to their ticket for more than two years as a joke, and Dave the lamb has been the first to take them up on the offer.

Wheels come off Dunedin cycleway as Radich swings vote

Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich. Photo: ODT Files

Wheels come off Dunedin cycleway as Radich swings vote

A contentious Dunedin cycleway project has been axed by the mayor’s casting vote during a high-drama council meeting.

'End their pain and suffering': Ashburton man banned from owning horses

A Canterbury man has been banned from owning horses for three years after several animals were found in poor condition on his property.

'Heartbroken': Giraffe and zebra foal die at Orana Park

Mdomo tragically passed away on Friday afternoon following a general anaesthetic. Photo: Orana...

'Heartbroken': Giraffe and zebra foal die at Orana Park

A 12-year-old giraffe and a young zebra foal have died at Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park, leaving staff "heartbroken".

'Sovereign citizen' at large after two cops killed in Victoria

Two police officers are reportedly dead after a shooting in the rural Victoria town of Porepunkah...

'Sovereign citizen' at large after two cops killed in Victoria

Panicked locals are on edge as police continue to scour a rural town for a fugitive gunman who shot two officers dead in what is being described as an ambush.

Drunk driver who killed young son to be released from prison

Daniel Melhopt will be released on parole after being jailed in July 2023. Photo / Jeremy Wilkinson

Drunk driver who killed young son to be released from prison

“For the rest of his life, he will have to live with the knowledge that his poor actions killed his son… It’s a sentence that has already begun.”

Dangerous incidents on the rise at rubbish dumps

EcoDrop transfer station pits can be "extremely dangerous" places. Photo: CCC

Dangerous incidents at Christchurch rubbish dumps

Christchurch City Council is worried about the number of people climbing into refuse pits and children getting out of vehicles at rubbish dumps.

Cop avoids prosecution over Otago bar fire

Cop avoids prosecution over Otago bar fire

A police officer has escaped prosecution for starting a fire which closed down an Otago bar for the evening.

Former NSW cop to fight claim he killed couple

Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird. Photo: Instagram

Former NSW cop to fight claim he killed couple

A former Sydney police officer will fight accusations he murdered two men with his service weapon, his lawyer says.

Israeli strike on hospital kills 20, including five journalists

People and rescuers work to recover the body of Palestinian cameraman Hussam al-Masri, who was a...

Israeli strike on hospital kills 20, including five journalists

Israel struck Nasser hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists who worked for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and others.

Conveyer belt death: Family's plea for inquest denied

Wesley Tomich died after he slipped and fell onto a conveyor belt at Agri-Nutrients' Mt Maunganui...

Conveyer belt death: Family's plea for inquest denied

A family's plea for a coroner to take a closer look into how their son and brother was asphyxiated on an unsafe conveyor belt at one of NZ's biggest fertiliser companies has denied.

Teenage car thief has 'productive' chat with victim

A teenage car thief was frog-marched back to the scene of his alleged crime by Dunedin police and had to face up to the vehicle’s owner.

Little snow forces Canterbury ski field to close

Little snow forces Canterbury ski field to close

A lack of snow has forced the Mt Cheeseman Ski Area to abandon its plans to open this season.

Wild weather bearing down on South

'One last gasp': Wild weather bearing down on South

Severe weather alerts have been issued for parts of the South as a large low-pressure system brings “one last gasp” of winter.

Elderly renters, women struggling with cost of living: survey

The variation of household costs month-to-month can be a struggle for the elderly. Photo: Getty...

Elderly renters, women struggling with cost of living: survey

Retirees who are renting or are women are being hit hard by the cost of living as the price of rate, insurance and power can vary month-to-month, a researcher says.

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