A drugs in wastewater report shows a 96 percent increase in methamphetamine consumption.

The forecast aid budget's $1.1b this financial year, compared to $1.2b last year.

MSD also cites evidence money management can lead to welfare dependency.

MSD recommended beneficiaries on non-financial sanctions have access to hardship payments.

After two last-minute changes, the bill to ban gang patches is set to pass today.

A clause to ban insignia in homes of repeat offenders was added after Select Committee.

The new powers, including the gang patch ban, are set to come into force in November.

Health officials warned the Minister the target would need a whole of system approach.

Police advised in March its mandatory attendance policy for family harm would be removed.

Police Minister was told the target was ambitious and would require other agencies.

It has seen an 'intensification of misinformation and disinformation around sex education.

Labour says the proposed cost signals the expense required to reduce treatment delays.

Figures show an increase in defendants selecting jury trials over judge-only trials.

Despite recruiting restrictions, police remain committed to delivering 500 extra cops.

People are waiting longer for answers from the courts as backlogs persist.

Young people in the region wait an average of 70 days for mental health treatment.

Callouts for harassment and threatening behaviour have nearly doubled in four years.

The Wellington 15-year-old died of a brain tumour last October.

Nobody on board the train was harmed.

Three fire trucks are currently at the scene.

Residents say they were not told about the construction before they moved in.

'If she hadn't done something, who knows if I'd be talking to you right now.'

One worker described 'burning lungs' and says he still feels disorientated months later.

Results were consistent regardless of which trimester the antibiotics were prescribed.

The woman was knocked unconscious when she hit her head and fell on her stomach.

Her catheter broke and she was told no one had the time to change her.

The sky's the limit for the women at the front of New Zealand's thriving space industry.

New Zealand's capital is full of eats and activities for the eco-conscious traveller.

Niwa's seasonal outlook shows conditions are most likely to be warmer than average.

The paraglider had been "picked up by the wind" and landed partway down a cliff.

Xero senior project manager David Michl now works from his home office in Wanaka.

The incident off Cape Palliser Rd was reported to police at 10.30 this morning.

'Their unwelcome occupation at this significant site has never been supported.'

DoC today confirmed no one has been charged in relation to the incident.

The PM was 'doing the rounds of police contingents to thank them for their work'.

On Saturday a Wadestown homeowner unearthed a human skull in their garden.

The average Kiwi was expected to live to be 81.99 in 2021, a drop of 0.37 years from 2020.

While the Omicron wave subsides, health services are concerned for a busy winter.

Operating for 30 years, Capital C: Concerts brought some of Wellington's biggest shows.

Health authorities planned to collect 'portaloo effluent' on the protest's second weekend.

The alarm was raised after the jet-skier didn't return from his trip the previous night.

Protesters not allowed on Parliament grounds while repairs from earlier action under way.

"I stood there staring at my phone thinking, 'surely that's a winner?'"

Unite group says they are 'reasonable Kiwis' and their cause is as important as ever.

Twelve Air New Zealand arrivals had been diverted and 16 departures cancelled.

An immunologist is assuring people the Covid-19 vaccine is safe.

Mars, Venus, Saturn and a crescent moon were all visible with the naked eye this morning.

"They're going to need every single event they can get ... just to recover".

A regional medical practice says there should be a "seamless" pathway for migrant GPs.

Three Covid deaths were announced in the Wellington Region yesterday.

A man remains in Wellington Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The man has life-threatening injuries following a serious assault on Saturday.

The dog was distressed but managed to keep out of the way of rescue efforts.

The two victims had called police earlier, concerned about a woman who was following them.

Kenepuru Community Hospital has 21 per cent of staff off work due to Covid-19.

They were found at Ponui Island at 12.23am, more than six hours after their boat sank.

The man has been in ICU since the attack and has not regained consciousness.

The Ministry of Education was informed of Covid spread at a school camp late last month.

DHB did not flag the potential allergy on the National Medical Warning System.

Health and safety concerns including staffing were raised with Wairarapa DHB last month.

Siaan documented her experience with Covid for 112 whānau around Aotearoa.

Protesters say Alexander Abramov is "one of the key people that could end this".

The two projects come from $3 in infrastructure funding.

The specialised 32-bed ward recently underwent a medical gas upgrade.

1700 complaints - but police defend action during unlawful Parliament occupation.

Sunday was the busiest non-New Year's Eve period ever, says Wellington Free Ambulance.

"She was slowly getting worse ... that was sort of just dismissed as after-birth pain."

Twenty-eight people who were at the Parliament protest have now tested positive.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES: 'That dog was going for the throat.'

An Auckland woman said it took days to report her daughter's RAT result over the phone.

Protesters demonstrating at Parliament in Wellington were dispersed on Wednesday.

23 days' worth of protest debris taken away.

Wellington businesses have been hit twice as hard by Omicron as the other main centres.

At least 17 Covid-19 cases have now been connected to the Parliament protests.

Calm scenes at Parliament this morning mark a strong contrast to clashes overnight.