Mum and daughter who died in house fire farewelled
Hundreds of people have farewelled a mother and her young daughter who were killed in a Christchurch house fire earlier this month.
National
Boost for trades training as tertiary subsidies frozen
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.
Money to shore up South Is state highways
Money to shore up South Is state highways
Budget 2026 contains funding for just one Road of National Significance and will help ensure state highways are resilient due to severe weather events.
Willis' superannuation comments an 'unfortunate mistake': Peters
Willis' superannuation comments an 'unfortunate mistake': Peters
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the Finance Minister made an "unfortunate mistake" when she made comments about superannuation during the Budget-lock up.
$48m boost for Māori broadcasting
$48m boost for Māori broadcasting
Pokere Paewai of RNZA boost for Māori broadcasting is the one main highlight for Māori in this year's Budget.
Spending on Pacific aid and defence
Spending on Pacific aid and defence
Budget 2026 will see more foreign aid to the Pacific region, while defence and customs spending rises with an eye towards crime and security.
Opposition: Govt making Kiwis' lives harder
Opposition: Govt making Kiwis' lives harder
Updated 5.35 pm
The Opposition says this year's Budget leaves Kiwis to fend for themselves, with more spending for prisons and more children in poverty.
'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.
'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.
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.
Govt creates $450m stash to address fuel crisis
Govt creates $450m stash to address fuel crisis
The government has announced it is holding $450 million in reserve to address further shocks caused by high fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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.
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'
Country 'digging its way out of the post-Covid hole'
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.
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.
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.
No 'sugar hits' as Willis battles to balance books
No 'sugar hits' as Willis battles to balance books
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.
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.
Minister 'comfortable' getting $1000 a week home allowance
Minister 'comfortable' getting $1000 a week home allowance
Cabinet minister Louise Upston, who collects $1000 a week to live in her own Wellington apartment, says she's "followed the rules" and is "comfortable" with them.