Boost for trades training as tertiary subsidies frozen
The Budget boosts spending on curriculum changes and trade training for teens, freezes nearly all tertiary subsidies and fast-tracks a modest boost for early childhood services.
Big boost for health
Big boost for health
Health gets $5.8 billion of new spending, including a $5.5b increase to frontline services over four years.
Country 'digging its way out of the post-Covid hole': Willis
Country 'digging its way out of the post-Covid hole': Willis
An end to the Middle East conflict, financial discipline and a return to solid economic growth are being relied on to deliver a quicker return to budget surpluses.
Budget 2026 at a glance
Budget 2026 at a glance
As promised, the Finance Minister has delivered a bread-and-butter Budget 2026, with few big surprises and no sign of a lolly scramble.
Students march to Octagon in protest of scrapping fees free
Students march to Octagon in protest of scrapping fees free
Students protesting the government’s decision to scrap fees free have told supporters that nothing short of a ‘‘legitimate mass movement’’ was needed to effect long-term change.
Live: No 'sugar hits' as Willis battles to balance books
Live: No 'sugar hits' as Willis battles to balance books
Updated 2.10 pm
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has used her election-year Budget to preach prudence and discipline, with the books now forecast to be back in black a year earlier than picked.
'Grand Designs' castle in Canterbury up for sale
'Grand Designs' castle in Canterbury up for sale
A luxury "post-modern castle" in Canterbury that appeared on 'Grand Designs New Zealand' in 2022 is on the market.
Luxon, UK PM talk war, cost of living in call
Luxon, UK PM talk war, cost of living in call
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke with his British counterpart Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday night to discuss the Iran and Ukraine wars, as well as the cost of living.
13 cases of hantavirus from cruise outbreak
13 cases of hantavirus from cruise outbreak
The number of cases of hantavirus linked to a cruise ship at the centre of an outbreak has increased to 13, the head of the World Health Organisation has confirmed.
11 feared dead in chemical vat rupture
11 feared dead in chemical vat rupture
The search for nine people missing after a chemical tank imploded and ruptured in Washington state has moved from a rescue to a recovery effort, likely brining the death toll to 11, authorities say.
PA who injected Matthew Perry with lethal dose jailed
PA who injected Matthew Perry with lethal dose jailed
The personal assistant who injected Friends star Matthew Perry with a fatal dose of ketamine has been jailed for 41 months, the last of five people who admitted to playing roles in the actor's death.
NZ generates double the global average of rubbish
NZ generates double the global average of rubbish: report
A report from the World Bank shows Kiwis generate almost two kilos of rubbish per person, per day - more than twice the global average.
Tourism firms hit by most weather-disrupted summer on record
Tourism firms hit by most weather-disrupted summer on record
Tourism operators are bracing for more frequent storms after some experienced their most weather-disrupted summer on record.
Nicola Willis faces tricky balancing act with Budget 2026
Nicola Willis faces tricky balancing act with Budget 2026
Analysis: Trying to please everyone will prove a near-impossible task for Finance Minister Nicola Willis when she delivers her third Budget on Thursday.
'A political choice': Homelessness reaches record levels
'A political choice': Homelessness reaches record levels
Significant investment in social and affordable housing is crucial to solving New Zealand's housing crisis and ending homelessness, a new report says.
McCain rebuffs plea to halt factory closure
McCain rebuffs plea to halt factory closure
International food company McCain has turned down a request from Hawke's Bay mayors asking for a pause on the factory's closure while growers try to find a solution for a possible takeover.
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Delay to changes a relief: home-schoolers
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Delay to changes a relief: home-schoolers
Home-school students and their parents say the government’s decision to delay sweeping changes is a relief after being scared they would face ‘‘a ton of bricks’’ of rules and regulations.
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Museum launches campaign to help children visit
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Museum launches campaign to help children visit
As petrol costs soar, Tūhura Otago Museum has come up with a way to help eager young minds.
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Emmy win brings one home for late colleague
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Emmy win brings one home for late colleague
Emmy number five, and this one was special for a ground-breaking Dunedin business.
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DCC fails to make substantial cuts
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DCC fails to make substantial cuts
Dunedin city councillors could not agree on how to cut a spending programme considered too large to be realistic, leading to a $12 million intervention.