Navigation for News Categories
What you need to know
Featured What you need to know stories
Why are New Zealand musicians leaving Spotify?
Explainer - Top New Zealand bands like Tiki Taane and The Bats are leaving Spotify behind. Why?
-
How does the RNZ-Reid Research political polling work?
16 Sep 2025Explainer - RNZ-Reid Research's latest political poll is out today. But what goes into taking a poll? Here's what you need to know.
-
Why our police don't wear body cameras, and if that will change
9 Sep 2025Explainer - Officers around the world wear body cameras to record incidents. But why not here?
-
The great methane debate explained
4 Sep 2025Explainer - A major decision is about to be announced by the PM, but what does it mean and why does it matter?
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
-
Will we get four-year Parliamentary terms soon?
3 Sep 2025Explainer - Parliament will soon take up whether to put longer terms to a referendum. Here's where it stands so far.
-
What's going on with the Reserve Bank?
Explainer - What on Earth is going on with the Reserve Bank and who is involved in the saga? Audio
-
What 'continuous vetting' means for Kiwis in the US
28 Aug 2025Explainer - If you're thinking about going over to the United States as more than a tourist, be ready for an ever-changing reality.
-
What is the sovereign citizen movement?
Explainer - A man accused of killing two police officers in Australia has been called a "sovereign citizen". But what is the movement about? Audio
-
What can you do if you're publicly shamed?
24 Aug 2025Explainer : Naming and shaming, false rumours or a photo that upends your life - is there anything you can do about it?
-
How much do teachers actually earn, anyway?
19 Aug 2025Explainer - Claims by Judith Collins on teachers' pay fired up the debate recently. How much do teachers earn, and what's the current offer to change that?
-
'Build back better' - How the road to Piha was finally restored
19 Aug 2025Explainer - More than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle, the popular main road to Auckland's Piha is opening again. Here's how they did it. Audio
-
'Justice' or 'vengeance'? Why sex offender name suppression is changing
11 Aug 2025Explainer - A recently passed law aims to give victims of sexual offences more control over name suppression orders. Audio
-
What we know so far about new road user charges
7 Aug 2025Explainer - The government calls it the biggest change to road funding in 50 years. But what are these RUCs that will replace the petrol tax? Audio
-
Our hottest destinations are set to start charging foreign tourists - here's why
Explainer - If you're coming to New Zealand as a tourist to check out some of our most famous attractions, get ready to pay a little more for the privilege.
-
What's replacing NCEA and how to have your say
4 Aug 2025Explainer - The system is going away - but what's taking its place? Here's what we know so far. Audio
-
What would New Zealand recognising Palestinian statehood mean?
Explainer - World leaders are moving toward accepting the idea of Palestinian statehood. What does it mean if New Zealand does? Audio
-
What you need to know about why nurses are striking
29 Jul 2025Explainer - Nurses and midwives held a strike for 24 hours in protests over staffing levels and pay. Here's what you need to know. Audio
-
How the government wants to change how we vote
30 Jul 2025Explainer - The Electoral Amendment Bill has had its first reading in Parliament. But what does it actually say? Audio
-
AI and public submissions - What you need to know
25 Jul 2025Explainer - Submissions have been soaring for legislation, and AI is being used more and more. But what does that mean?
-
All the changes to schools so far this year - and what's coming next
22 Jul 2025Explainer - It's been a busy year so far for education policy, with a series of announcements by the government and curriculum changes.
-
Why New Zealand First wants to require businesses to accept cash
Explainer - A member's bill put forward by New Zealand First would require businesses to accept cash as payment. Here's what you need to know. Audio
-
What is a flash flood and why are they so dangerous?
15 Jul 2025Explainer - Hundreds are dead or missing in Texas flash floods. The Tasman District has been hit hard. Why is flash flooding so hard to predict? Video
-
Birth trauma - what is it and how do people heal?
14 Jul 2025Explainer - It's Birth Trauma Awareness Week - but what is it exactly and why should you know what it is?
-
Why KFC went after a teen's business logo
Explainer: Why does a giant global corporation care so much about the logo being used by a young Christchurch entrepreneur?
-
How New Zealand decides who is and isn't a 'terrorist'
8 Jul 2025Explainer - The Proud Boys are no longer a terrorist entity in New Zealand. But how does a group get designated as terrorists in the first place?
-
Nobody's buying carbon anymore - and it's costing the government millions
5 Jul 2025Explainer - Seven failed auctions and counting. How did the government lose hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from big polluters?
-
Want to be a mayor? How to stand in local body elections
3 Jul 2025Explainer - Have you ever wanted to stand for local office? Now's your chance, as the nomination period for this year's local body elections opens Friday.
-
Can US Customs search your phone? What you need to know
1 Jul 2025Explainer - When travelling to America as a tourist or on a visa, US Customs have the right to search your devices - as do many other countries. Audio
Top News stories
- Live weather: Canterbury under red strong wind warning until at least Sunday afternoon
- Mediawatch: Property news pumping up the market?
- Arrest after laser pointed at two planes landing at Wellington Airport
- Does your body do a big, convulsive twitch while dozing off? That'll be a ‘hypnic jerk’
- Silver Ferns v South Africa: What you need to know
Subscribe
Get the top 8 headlines each day at 8am with our daily email newsletter.
