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What you need to know
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
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East Coast wind, rain and evacuations: What you need to know
26 Jun 2024Police have been going door to door as heavy rain and wind lashes the region, with local state of emergencies declared.
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The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care: A timeline
24 Jul 2024Explainer - The final report from the long-running inquiry has been made public on 24 July. RNZ reflects on key points.
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Don't have tickets to Glastonbury? How to enjoy the festival from home
The UK's biggest music festival is back for 2024, with two New Zealand artists on the bill.
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From Whanganui to Kororāreka: What to know about place name changes
21 Jun 2024Why do place names get changed, who can suggest a new one and what's in a name anyway? Audio
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Bird strike: What you need to know
20 Jun 2024Explainer - The remains of a duck were found on the airfield at Queenstown Airport after suspected bird strike. What exactly happened?
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Breast cancer and mammograms: What you need to know
17 Jun 2024Explainer - If Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson's announcement of a breast cancer diagnosis has prompted you to get screened, here's everything you need to know.
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RATs, vaccines and Covid funding: What you need to know
6 Jun 2024Explainer - Here's what we know about the government's Covid plans for the next four years.
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Covid cases, rules, and free stuff: What you need to know
29 May 2024Explainer - What will Budget 2024 reveal about the country's Covid-19 strategy? RNZ recaps what we know so far.
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Is it OK to take pseudoephedrine for winter ills?
29 May 2024Explainer - With flu season in full swing, here's everything you need to know about cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine.
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Investors may see biggest impact of Reserve Bank's lending limits
28 May 2024Explainer - One property economist says investors in particular may be underestimating what's coming.
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Open banking: How to opt in and out of new payment system
NZ's four major banks will soon provide open banking - a new way to pay and track funds. Here's how it works.
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King's Birthday: What's open, what's not, and when you have to pay a surcharge
27 May 2024King's Birthday will be celebrated on 3 June with a public holiday. Here's what you need to know.
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Why violent unrest in New Caledonia is hitting nickel prices
Global nickel prices have soared since deadly violence erupted in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. Here's a closer look.
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More Kiwis expected to arrive home from Nouméa on Friday
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the government has received approval from France to bring another group of New Zealanders home. Audio
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Open banking is coming, so how does it work?
Next week is the deadline for the four major banks in New Zealand to offer open banking. Here's the lowdown. Audio
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Is it legal to hoon past traffic on an electric scooter? What you need to know
23 May 2024Explainer - E-scooters are increasingly popular and increasingly speedy. What are the rules they need to follow, and do they need updating? RNZ explains.
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Here's what to know about the upcoming UK election
23 May 2024The United Kingdom's first election in five years is shaping up as a battle for the country's soul. Here is a look at the biggest issues at stake.
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Cheese rolls and tax cuts: A quick guide to Budget 2024
23 May 2024With one week to go, this handy-dandy cheat sheet will bring you up to speed on all the jargon you need to impress your friends.
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What is turbulence, and when does it become dangerous?
22 May 2024Explainer - The death of a man and injuries for dozens on a London-to-Singapore flight has highlighted the dangers of flying through unstable air.
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Covid FLiRT variants: What you need to know
15 May 2024The dominant Covid subvariant has mutated, giving rise to several new lineages, known as "FLiRT".
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Charter schools: Are they better than public schools?
14 May 2024What exactly are charter schools and what makes them different to regular public schools? Here's what you need to know.
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A structured literacy approach in schools: What you need to know
10 May 2024Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods?
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What we learnt from Nicola Willis' pre-Budget speech
9 May 2024The Finance Minister has done a conservative lift of the lid on her upcoming Budget. Here's what she laid out.
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Samoa's dengue fever outbreak: What you need to know
3 May 2024New Zealanders travelling to Samoa are recommended to have comprehensive insurance as the country deals with a dengue outbreak. Audio
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