Updated 9 min ago
Brownlee's 'stupid error'
Prime Minister John Key says he was "really disappointed" after Gerry Brownlee bypassed airport security this morning, but he has been quick to back him.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Leading Headlines
Cunliffe may boycott leaders' debate
Labour leader David Cunliffe is refusing to rule out withdrawing from TVNZ's election debate if it insists on having presenter Mike Hosking as the moderator
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Dollar dives after rate hike
The Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler has raised the official cash rate as expected - leading the kiwi dollar to instantly take a tumble.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
MH17 tragedy: Today's developments
A round-up of the top developments in the MH17 tragedy today, including Ukraine accusing Russian rebels of shooting down more fighter jets near the crash site.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Dying inmate gasps for two hours
A condemned Arizona inmate gasped and snorted for more than an hour and a half during his execution before he died.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Great night - but where were the fans?
The Wellington Phoenix and West Ham served up a classic contest in Auckland last night - with the only disappointment being the modest crowd.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
- 65Comments
Fall in reading standards
The number of young school children achieving or bettering the national standard in reading has fallen or flat-lined in half of the country's regions.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Glasgow Games: Opening Ceremony
The 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has opened today in Scottish style - with bagpipes, kilt-clad singers and jokes about the weather.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Opinion: Few MPs leave in high regard
Politicians come and politicians go. Some are loved, some are ridiculed, some are despised. Claire Trevett looks at two who will leave this week, respected.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
- 14Comments
Cops' rape case failure
Police failed to properly investigate information that implicated serial rapist Malcolm Rewa to a historic sex attack on a woman in 1987, the IPCA has found.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Caseload: Lawyers need to stop whining
As the brakes go on this fiscal profligacy, legal hand-wringers continue to whine about a so-called "justice gap" created by cuts to legal aid, writes Jock Anderson
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
- 10Comments
Teen fights for life after balcony fall
An Australian teenager is in a critical condition after falling from a Queenstown hotel balcony.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Train crash driver smoked drugs
A train driver who had smoked cannabis in the days before a crash at Lower Hutt last year no longer works for KiwiRail, the company says.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Use bikeways, says US ad - featuring NZ
A US state tourism department has mistakenly used a photograph of Auckland's Tamaki Drive bike path to promote its scenic cycle paths.
- Quickread
- ✩ Save
Latest
News
Editor's Picks
Kiwi's viral surf-rage video
Poachers hit park deer
'Songs in the Kiwi of life'
Twitter's work diversity issue
Baby alone as Peaches OD'd
Best of the Herald
Parking warden bashed
Aunty: Paki needs redemption
Editorial: Pride at stake
Video
Watch: Phoenix v West Ham
Sideswipe: Hey, single ladies
Quizzes
3pm distractions quiz: July 24
National
NZ@Noon: Grateful drivers want to honour mystery saviour
Some stories that are making headlines across the regions today include: Who is the mystery Northland driver being called…
NZ@Noon: Mums to break breastfeeding record
Landmark Ngai Tuhoe settlement passes reading
Ngai Tuhoe will take the lead role in the future of their homeland, including Te Urewera, under a landmark settlement that includes a Crown apology for wrongful killings…
Greens launch solar schools policy
ACC back-tracks on cuts to petrol levies
Business
NZ posts eighth monthly trade surplus
New Zealand posted its eighth monthly trade surplus in June, led by overseas demand for the nation's primary products such…
'Desperate shortage' of retail space, says Auckland councillor
Auckland is suffering a desperate shortage of land for business expansion and retailing with a "critical short supply" of large format shopping space, says one Auckland…
Moa completes $500k placement
Moa Group, the unprofitable boutique beer maker, raised $500,000 from five institutional investors and plans to raise up to $5.25 million in a discounted rights issue…
Poverty St no lifetime address
Is poverty for life? A Treasury report suggests not, writes Brian Fallow. Only 24 per cent of those at the bottom decile in 2002 were there seven years later.
35CommentsPolitics
MP admits further misuse of charge card
Outgoing National MP Claudette Hauiti admits using her parliamentary charge card to buy petrol for her personal car in a…
Claudette Hauiti: 'No excuse'
Video
Bryan Gould: A new weapon of mass distraction
The trend towards using inquiries to cover tracks and save embarrassment has reached ludicrous proportions, however, with the Malaysian diplomat case, writes Bryan Gould…
87CommentsKindies beat Greens on free for 2-Y-Os
Poll finds majority support for 'fat tax'
World
47 dead as plane crashes in Taiwan
A plane attempting to land in stormy weather crashed on a small Taiwanese island overnight, killing 47 people and wrecking…
Plane crashes in Taiwan
Video
Costa Concordia makes her final voyage
The once-luxurious Costa Concordia cruise liner is on her final voyage - being tugged from her island wreck site to a scrapyard grave.
Group tours: How to pick the right 1 for you
Chief doctor fighting Ebola is infected
Life & Style
Painkillers reduce risk of post-natal depression
Women who use pain relief during childbirth may have a lower risk of depression after their babies are born, a leading psychiatrist…
The truth about eating for two during pregnancy
Shelley Bridgeman: Has your husband stopped noticing you?
I sprained my wrist two days before Mother's Day. In the middle of a show-jumping lesson, I lost my balance over a jump and my right hand came down heavily on my horse's…
13CommentsThis year's Booker Prize contenders announced
Flexible working good for happiness
Your Money
Inside Money: How to share and enjoy finance again
I don't ever recall enjoying waiting in queues or arguing with a person behind a plexiglass panel about cheque clearance…
1CommentsInside Money: Why KiwiSavers can't fly to Australia
Tamsyn Parker: Is KiwiSaver really unaffordable?
More than two million people have joined KiwiSaver, but a significant chunk of the working population are still not in the scheme, saying they can't afford it.
23CommentsInside Money: Back office terrorism threat has advisers up in arms
8CommentsAndrew Bruce: Why are house prices so high?
202CommentsRugby
Rugby: McCaw, Flynn to start for Crusaders
The Crusaders have been bolstered by the return of Richie McCaw for their semifinal against the Sharks on Saturday, with…
Rugby: Crusaders into playoffs
Video
Rugby: Australian semifinal has plenty of edge
Nothing beats a grudge game and the whiff of verbal cordite is swirling ahead of the Super rugby semifinal between the Waratahs and Brumbies.
Rugby: Crusaders tipped to fight fire with fire
Rugby: Speight a must-have for coach
Sport
Commonwealth Games: What to expect - day 1
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games are officially open and the action begins tonight. Here's a rundown of which New Zealanders…
Kris Shannon: Let the Games begin
With a vigorous wave of the New Zealand flag, Valerie Adams kicked off the Kiwi presence at the 20th Commonwealth Games this morning (NZT). The Glasgow Games opened…
