Today's latest news

Nikhil Ravishankar on Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar joins Newstalk ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan in studio after the national carrier  posted a $40m after tax half-year loss.

From guinea pigs to pros: Chiefs' captains back history to repeat against Crusaders

Richard Turner recalls the Chiefs' 27-26 win over the Crusaders 30 years ago.

Man jailed after giving protected bird alcoholic drink in YouTube stunt

Footage shows a person pouring a green drink into the hawk's mouth.

Son returns to play for Hawks – and his dad is assistant coach

Alonzo Burton is back with the Hawks for the 2026 season.

'Very loud noise': Four injured after bus and two-car crash in Ponsonby

A witness says a speeding black car hit a red car, then veered into the bus.

Broadway great Sondra Lee dies at 97 after seven-decade stage career

The performer mentored stars including Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Marlon Brando.

Greenacre wants to restore Phoenix pride after Auckland drubbing

Chris Greenacre, 48, steps in as Phoenix interim coach for the fourth time.

'Not been an easy decision': Nic Smith steps down as vice-chancellor of Victoria University

Smith's tenure as vice-chancellor is the shortest at the Wellington uni in 25 years.

Pedestrian dies after being hit by truck on Whangārei road

The crash happened on Kamo Rd in Kensington about 9.35am today.

Central Coast teen becomes first Australian fatality from tick-induced red meat allergy

Jeremy Webb, 16, suffered breathing trouble after eating beef sausages.

Greek politician is prosecuted for admitting drug use decades ago

NY Times: His party said Yanis Varoufakis is charged with promoting and advertising drugs.

'Deadly consequences': Picture sparks chilling warning over 'nangs' use

The gas gives users a short-lived high along with dissociation and hallucinations.

Afternoon quiz: Peter the Great ruled what country between 1682 and 1725?

Test your brain with the Herald's afternoon quiz.

Kidnapping, stalking, assaults: A killer’s violent path to murdering an innocent mum

Judges warned that years of prison and strict sanctions had not stopped Nathan Boulter.

Confirmed: Ardern now living in Australia after reportedly being seen house-hunting in Sydney

The former Prime Minister was pictured with locals in a small town south of Sydney.

Nick Clark: The RMA reform we were promised is not the reform we got

RMA reform bills risk repeating 30 years of failure.

Business confidence dips on interest rate fears but remains elevated

A net 23% of firms report higher activity than at the same time last year.

David Seymour renews call to sell Govt's Air NZ shares after half-year loss

The Government owns a 51% controlling stake in the airline.

The Country: Farmers send open letter to the Government

Walt Cavendish, Don Fraser, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Dr Marie Elena Duter, Chris Russell.

NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Thursday, February 26, 2026

NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Iran's embassy has our Government in its sights and Air New Zealand says a reset is needed | Thursday, February 26, 2026

Whitney Hansen's four-point plan to drive Black Ferns revival

Hansen rose from club player to Black Ferns head coach in under 10 years.

Police probe after West Auckland school lockdown over student safety concern

Woodlands Park School has now lifted the lockdown and classes have resumed.

Iwi extends pause on Bluff oyster harvest to prioritise fishery's recovery

Ngāi Tahu Seafood controls about 20% of the Bluff oyster commercial quota.

Volunteer firefighters renew calls for ACC mental health cover

A 2025 petition with 36,549 signatures to extend cover was rejected.

Bankers 'blindsided' by RBNZ's ATM proposal – what the Governor told them over lunch

Nicola Willis is not picking sides in the battle.

Air New Zealand loses $40m in six months, Qantas makes $1b

Airline blames engine dramas, sluggish domestic demand, high costs, and weak dollar.

Alleged phone scammer accused of taking $15k from elderly victim

Officers stopped a vehicle of interest on St Lukes Rd just before 1am.

Govt crackdown finds cash wages, worker breaches at construction firms

Organised crime groups reportedly exploit weaknesses to launder money and exploit staff.

'Unruly': Shouting match erupts in chambers after YouTuber begins filming

The clash began when Mayor Gary Petley asked YouTuber Bruce Simpson to stop filming.

Inside the new Waikato airbase keeping patients connected to critical care

Specialist nurses on board perform critical care at speeds above 536km/h.

PM addresses latest stats showing crime victims down 49,000

The drop covers the year to October 2025, compared with the prior two years.

NZ Herald Live: National makes law & order announcement.

PM Christopher Luxon, with  ministers Paul Goldsmith and Mark Mitchell, makes a law & order announcement vIdeo/NZ Herald

Four passengers of US speedboat shot dead by Cuban coastguard

Rubio: 'As we gather more information, then we’ll be prepared to respond accordingly'.

NZ Open live leaderboard: Play begins after rain delay

Live leaderboard of the NZ Open.

Watch: Can Samsung phone's Privacy Display defeat peeping Toms? - Tech Insider

REVIEW: Technology editor Chris Keall reviews the Korean giant's new flagship phone.

Police failings after Auckland dairy stabber ‘trying to reach heaven’ dies in custody - report

Mitchell Lam died after self-harming in his cell.

'A disgrace': One in seven Kiwi kids living in material hardship

Child poverty figures remain persistently high, according to new data from Stats NZ.

NZ Herald Live: National makes law & order announcement

PM Christopher Luxon, with  ministers Paul Goldsmith and Mark Mitchell, makes a law & order announcement

Eating 30 plants a week can transform your gut health (and it’s easier than it sounds)

Telegraph: You're probably already eating many more plant foods than you realise.

Spinners take hold as Black Caps beat Sri Lanka at their own game

New Zealand’s T20 World Cup victory saw them exploit their perceived weakness.

Nvidia smashes forecasts with record quarter

Nvidia's quarterly revenue jumped 73% to a record $113b, smashing forecasts.

Construction companies busted in Government crackdown

Regulators uncovered breaches of minimum employment standards, as well as cash wage payments and poor record-keeping. Video / MBIE

Tauranga robotics company to supply NZ Defence Force with drones

The air, land and sea drones will be trialled by the Army and the Navy.

Bill Gates admits to affairs with two Russian women

Gates told staff he had affairs with a bridge player and a nuclear physicist.

What it's like skiing at one of Europe’s most glamorous ski resorts

Expect empty runs and champagne lunches.

Harry and Meghan meet teenage victims of Middle East wars

The couple met Gaza teens like Jaber, 17, whose legs are still in metal frames.

'This is home for me': Wallabies great shuts down All Blacks coaching speculation

The Brumbies' strong start this season ramped up speculation about Larkham's future.

Farmer behind NZ's biggest GST fraud has $16m of assets confiscated

John Richard Bracken, then 54, was sent to prison in 2021 on 39 charges of tax fraud.

Magpies coach called in to hone attack of NZ’s best up-and-comers

The Magpies coach has been propelled into a national U20s assistant coaching role.

'Thank heavens': Peters celebrates end to Luxon's beloved quarterly plans

A chuckling Peters appeared happy to see the end of them.

‘Unseen’ pollution: 10,000 litres of rubbish pulled from Rotorua waterways

Charity's vessel removes about 2000 litres of rubbish each day in the Bay of Plenty.

'We need to be fighting fit': Air NZ chief on his plan to reset airline after big loss

It seems all options on the table as airline confronts sobering challenges.

Seymour slams ‘degenerate’ owners of attacking dogs as he warns councils of knee-jerk regulation

A 62-year-old woman died last week in Northland after three dogs attacked her.

Jacqueline Rowarth: Sewage, swimmability and spending

OPINION: Sewage spills and water alerts reveal the price of putting off fixes.

This $23 hack makes Europe long-haul fights far less punishing

The long journey doesn't need to be a marathon.

'Continuity' key for Tall Blacks in World Cup qualifiers

The Tall Blacks must beat the Philippines or Guam to stay in World Cup contention.

Man charged after alleged clan lab found at Ōkere Falls

Specialist staff from Auckland are examining the address today.

Staffer at US retirement home charged with killing 87-year-old resident

Maryland authorities allege Robert Fuller was killed by a man who later shot at a trooper.

Moving houses? Ardern spotted inspecting Sydney beach homes

Dame Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford were seen house-hunting in Sydney.

Hope fades in search for missing after Brazil rains kill 46

At least 46 people have died and 21 remain missing after the storm.

BBC orders probe into 'serious mistake' over Bafta racial slur

There was a two-hour delay between filming and the television broadcast.

‘Everyone can tell you a dog war story’ - Te Puna residents battle wandering dogs

Te Puna School reports roaming dogs entering the playground and scaring pupils.

North must not be sidelined in Govt infrastructure plan, business group says

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says the region is not being left off the table.

Free trial, new provider: Rotorua parking shake-up gathers pace

A free trial begins in a Rotorua CBD parking building as the council reshapes parking.

A bonkers 96.2cm of snow hit this US city. How that happened

Most of the snow - 90.1cm - fell on the Rhode Island city in one day.

Justice Minister: Homeless move-on orders a 'tool', not a 'total solution'

'There's a very easy way to avoid the fine, and that is to follow the move-on order.'

From workmate to defender: How Napier man won second national stockcar title

Caleb Ireland successfully defended his title, with a little help from a workmate.

Peter Ombler receives Hayward Medal for service to kiwifruit industry

Peter Ombler has spent more than 40 years shaping New Zealand's kiwifruit sector.