Today's latest news

7 midlife personality changes that are warning signs of dementia

Telegraph: Some of these shifts can emerge years before a dementia diagnosis.

Gloria Masters: Let’s hand the shame back to the perpetrators of child sexual abuse and protect kids

OPINION: An anonymous donor is funding safety guides for all 4400 early childhood centres

'Over the moon': New fire truck a game changer for ski area emergencies

The all-wheel-drive Volvo can tackle snow, gravel, mud and steep climbs.

Herald Hat-trick sports quiz: February 27

Can you get a hat-trick?

Editorial: It's not just the system that must change to keep Kiwi kids alive

OPINION: The legal guardian of Rickah'Shae, 8, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Russia sends migrants into Europe through secret tunnels

Polish officials uncovered four tunnels under the border with Belarus in 2025.

Matthew Hooton: NZ’s new economic peers - Romania, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan

State of the Nation speeches reveal main parties have no ideas, or don’t want to share.

Iwi mussel farm crew 'shocked' after suspected vandalism in Far North bay

The iwi says the farm is key to long-term jobs and intergenerational wealth.

Wonderful trotter trying to climb Mountain for record fourth time

Muscle Mountain is odds-on for the Group 1 race at Addington tonight.

Stock Takes: Power giants tap $925m as investors back sector's growth story

Morningstar says Meridian is fairly valued with a forward dividend yield of 4%.

Student road patroller hit at crossing becomes 5th child run over on school run this month

The latest child casualty was on morning duty when they were struck by a car.

Cold snap on the way as warm spell ends and weekend temps tumble

MetService warns of localised heavy showers and possible thunderstorms.

Pharmacist shortage leaves regions scrambling as Govt pushes for more services

Owners warn that high locum costs and underfunding make rural services vulnerable.

Ministry defends nearly $1m spend on Te Tiriti course for staff

The ministry spent an estimated $987k for staff to take the course between 2022 and 2024.

AA congestion warning as March Madness delays bite early

Average trips on the Southern Motorway are tipped to rise by six minutes.

78yo dog walker attacked with broom handle in popular Auckland park after pet off leash

'He stomped up to me and was yelling at me to put my dog on the leash... I had no idea.'

Person dies in hospital after gang-related Christchurch clash

Three men aged 19, 31 and 40 remain in custody facing serious violence charges.

‘Burned in my memory’: Honour for man who pulled Sophia Crestani out of deadly party pile-up

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has recognised Samson Aruwa for his bravery.

From beach shacks to band clubs: Malta’s insider guide beyond the postcards

Locals share year-round favourites from medieval Birgu to rugged west coast walks.

Classic bach less than 20 steps from secret beach - ‘we don’t like to tell too many people’

Holiday home up for grabs for only the second time in its history.

Devonport matriarch, 93, selling her beloved beach villa with $8m RV after nearly 60 years

Dorothy Chignell originally paid £20,000 for the iconic home.

Hollywood Hills in West Auckland: Resort for sale after 85 years in same family

How a bachelor's pad in the Waitākere Ranges evolved into a boutique hotel.

'Get this man out of this house now': Tradie exposes man stuck in hoarding horror, calls on Aussie Govt

Nathan Stafford shared film of the man in waist-high rubbish with 2.9 million TikTok fans.

MetService weather: February 26, 2026

MetService weather: February 26, 2026. Video / MetService

Man, 46, charged after manhunt through Dunedin

Accused drove his vehicle towards a police car and officers in an effort to avoid arrest.

Kiwi woman detained in Indonesia after alleged violent Ramadan prayer outburst with machetes

The island hotspot is a popular destination for tourists.

'She was entitled to feel safe': Man raped teen who was shaking with fear

The 14-year-old tried to avoid eye contact, but Jahvis Taiaroa wouldn't leave her room.

Worker left with broken front teeth as customer abuse soars in hospitality

More than a third of respondents experienced negative behaviour from customers.

Kobori ace keeps Kiwi hopes alive after wild, wet New Zealand Open start

Kiwi golfing duo Kazuma Kobori and Steven Alker sit one and two shots off the lead.

Police allege 85yo Sydney kidnapping victim was killed within 48 hours; accused duo face court

Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, have both been charged with murder.

Market close: NZ sharemarket up despite turbulence from Air NZ

The NZ sharemarket was positive despite falls by Air NZ and Precinct Properties.

The best brain games to keep your mind sharper for longer

Telegraph: One exercise stood out for its mind-boosting benefits.

Teacher had sexual relationship with student, other students blew the whistle

April Marie Nordstrom has had her teacher registration cancelled.

Rotorua rubbish truck fire traced to discarded batteries

The fire broke out during a routine kerbside collection.

Call for ministers to stop 'derogatory' rhetoric against councils

Northland Regional Council chairman Pita Tipene challenged Cabinet ministers at a forum.

One of New Zealand's greatest athletes hangs up black jersey – again

The player won Rugby World Cups in 2017 and 2022 and Olympic gold and silver medals.

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.

How pay and knowledge gaps are locking women out of the housing market

Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel unsure where to start buying.

'Closer to home': Maternity services to be fully restored at Whakatāne Hospital

The change will end transfers of high-risk births to Tauranga Hospital.

Why are young women less likely to own the home they live in?

Cotality NZ’s chief property economist, Kelvin Davidson is with The Front Page to discuss what’s contributing to the discrepancy, and how we might be able to fix it.

'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.

'Oozing good taste': These are the best hotels in Auckland, according to travel experts

Which hotels are the very best for your needs and worth the money?

Wellington electricity workers claim lengthy storm outages could have been fixed faster

Worker blames understaffing as some people were left without power for five days.

On The Up: Three Hawke’s Bay finalists for NZer of the Year awards

'I’m just carrying on a legacy that was made for me.'

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.