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Nicola Willis faces tricky balancing act with Budget 2026

Nicola Willis with Budget 2026. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

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

Community Housing Aotearoa warns homelessness has reached its highest level ever. Photo: RNZ /...

'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

Hastings District mayor Wendy Schollum. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook

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

Samantha Kerr, of Milton, talks about the benefits of home-schooling, at a gathering of the home...

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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

Developer Noel Park holds a previous trophy as Animation Research staff in Dunedin celebrate...

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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.

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'Grandstanding': Lund and Galer's South Dunedin flood plan flounders

Crs Jo Galer (pictured) and Russell Lund put forward plans to pause and re-evaluate short-term...

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'Grandstanding': Lund and Galer's South Dunedin flood plan flounders

An attempt to send South Dunedin flood alleviation work back to the drawing board was rejected by councillors as ‘‘grandstanding’’ and a disservice to late mayor Jules Radich.

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Life of human cannonball truly a blast

Human cannonball Luis Dazazarta flies up to 30m when he is shot from a cannon during his act with...

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Life of human cannonball truly a blast

If Luis Dazazarta was ever to retire from his job as a human cannonball, the Weber Brothers Circus may struggle to find another man of his calibre.

Collision sends car down bank

Collision sends car down bank

Two people were uninjured after their car collided with another in Corrie St, Dunedin Central, before plunging down a bank.

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Central Dunedin stabbing victim 'lucky to be alive'

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Central Dunedin stabbing victim 'lucky to be alive'

Since the knife attack - sparked by noise disturbing an inner-city resident - the victim has been unable to work and might have permanent nerve damage.

Parliament votes to scrap Environment Ministry

Nicola Grigg says environmental responsibilities would continue seamlessly under the new...

Parliament votes to scrap Environment Ministry

The Ministry for the Environment has been scrapped, with legislation bringing the 40-year-old entity to an end passing in Parliament.

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ME sufferers no longer ‘invisible’

University of Otago researcher Dr Nick Bowden. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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ME sufferers no longer ‘invisible’

While people living with ME/CFS face substantial health challenges in New Zealand, they also have to battle long-term economic hardship and fight for access to support.

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Pupils ‘guinea pigs’ as NCEA scrapped

Post Primary Teachers’ Association Ōtākou regional chairman Kussi Hurtado is worried about how...

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Pupils ‘guinea pigs’ as NCEA scrapped

Intermediate aged pupils are being treated as ‘‘guinea pigs’’ and are being set up to fail when new tougher qualifications are introduced, a Dunedin teacher says.

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Manage My Health failure highlighted

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Manage My Health failure highlighted

Hundreds of Otago and Southland patients had their records breached in January’s Manage My Health saga.

Birthday shows to help revive ailing Playhouse

The Playhouse Theatre is a beloved Dunedin venue, with thousands of students performing in shows...

Birthday shows to help revive ailing Playhouse

Cold and leaky, the 150-year-old Dunedin theatre is putting on milestone birthday shows in a bid to raise money for much-needed renovations.

Minister 'comfortable' getting $1000 a week home allowance

The pecuniary interests register shows Louise Upston has no mortgage on the Wellington apartment....

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.

Health wishes for Budget 2026

The govt has already announced an expansion to Lakes District Hospital's ED in Queenstown will begin within months as part of a $180m boost to healthcare in the Otago Central Lakes area.

Climate note sent to PM's senior adviser

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he does not agree with Mike King's controversial alcohol...

Climate note sent to PM's senior adviser

The staffer who received a document from Fonterra and Z Energy making suggestions for a potential law change was a senior adviser for PM Christopher Luxon.

One dead, multiple injuries as chemical tank ruptures

The ruptured chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill in Longview,...

One dead, multiple injuries as chemical tank ruptures

A chemical tank has imploded and ruptured in the US state of Washington, resulting one death, nine people critically injured and another nine unaccounted for, officials say.

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