NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Thursday, February 19, 2026

Bizzare video of students enduring hazing ritual

Students from the University of Iowa are shown being subjected to a strange hazing ritual. Video / UI Police

Auckland's housing plan is changing again. What will happen over your fence now?

Simon Wilson is with The Front Page to unpack the updated plans, the protests, and what it means for your backyard.

NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Thursday, February 19, 2026

Afternoon Headlines | Prime Minister allays Harbour Bridge toll concerns and police operation underway in Christchurch | Thursday, February 19, 2026

Serial heckler interrupts Chris Bishop's Auckland housing speech

Vision NZ candidate Karl Mokaraka interrupts Housing Minister Chris Bishop's Auckland housing speech. Video / Dean Purcell

How to build a backyard granny flat now building consent rules have eased

G.J. Gardners' Matt Lelean on how to navigate the costs and regulations of adding a minor dwelling to your property. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

Chris Bishop's U-turn on intensification plans for Auckland

Chris Bishop's U-turn on intensification plans for Auckland

Panel: Easter alcohol sales and the Reserve Bank

Dave Letele and Trish Sherson share their views on alcohol sales over Easter and the Reserve Bank’s role in the economy.

Auckland Airport narrows guidance on full year profit, Sky City first half lifts

Business with Forsyth Barr: Auckland International Airport lifts the floor on FY26 guidance to $295-320m, while Sky City posts a $12m first half NPAT.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke speak about Black Foils SailGP crash

Live: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke speak about Black Foils SailGP crash

Will NZ back bid to see Putin in court?

Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomat Mykola Yurlov talks about Ukraine's wish to see Putin face a war crime trial.

'I'm so grateful': Zoi Sadowski-Synnott on her latest silver medal

Sadowski-Synnott is now NZ's most decorated Winter Olympian.

Should cafes and bars be able to sell booze on Easter?

Hospitality NZ chief executive reveals why they're pushing to legalise alcohol sales during Easter. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

Fed Farmers: Wellington sewage spill stinks of double standards

Hospitality NZ chief executive reveals why they're pushing to legalise alcohol sales during Easter.

Children 'no safer' four years on from Malachi Subecz's death

Paediatrician Patrick Kelly on why vulnerable children are still falling through the cracks. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

Ruakākā Beach vehicle use in spotlight in face of bylaw review

Should vehicles be allowed on beaches in this Northland town? Susan Botting reports.

Richard Leman murder trial: Witness says victim was shot twice by evil killer

A jury has heard a detailed account of Leman’s last moments at the trial for the man accused of his murder, Anna Leask reports. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

Is the economy in the Goldilocks zone? Plus, XRO & FBU restructures, societies law deadline.

Business with Forsyth Barr: No scope mortgage rate rises; 250 Xero jobs head to Canada while Fletcher sweats its GMs, 1000’s of clubs may cease to exist legally after Easter.

Pharmac looks to fund two new leukaemia treatments

Blood Cancer Chief Executive Tim Edmonds says the treatments would typically cost patients upwards of $150,000 a year.

What the OCR decision means for Kiwis

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub on the Reserve Bank's decision to hold the OCR at 2.25%.

Government announces $80 million allocation for critical minerals development

Minister for Resources, Shane Jones reveals where the money will go. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

MetService Morning Weather Update: February 19

MetService Morning Weather Update: February 19. Video / MetService

Sport Headlines | Thursday, February 19, 2026

Sport Headlines | Sadowski-Synnott wins Olympic silver, Netball NZ calls in Kereyn Smith to rebuild its board, and Pakistan reaches | Thursday, February 19, 2026.

NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Thursday, February 19, 2026

Morning Headlines | More needed to prevent dog attacks, grassroots approach to child abuse and shift in how economy operates | Thursday, February 19, 2026

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claims slopestyle silver

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott added to her Olympic medal count with silver in the women's snowboard slopestyle in Italy.

Child Safety Review press conference

Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad, Independent Children's Monitor chief executive Arran Jones and Chief Ombudsman John Allen announce the latest review into children's safety.

How a Kiwi TV producer made a Hollywood escape amid fraud charges

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Media Insider Shayne Currie is with us to take us through the rise, and falls, of high-flying Kiwi producer Alex Breingan.

David Seymour responds to OCR announcement

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour responds to OCR announcement. Video / NZ Herald

Nicola Willis responds to OCR announcement

Finance Minister Nicola Willis responds to OCR announcement. Video / NZ Herald

RBNZ “don't want to scare the horses” with rate track; housing price growth subdued

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold digests the RBNZ monetary policy statement with Herald NOW Business host Garth Bray.

Kaihu dog attack, community leader speaks out

A woman has died after a dog attack on Tuesday in the northland settlement of Kaihu. Video \ Jason Dorday

RBNZ expects ‘accommodative’ policy ‘for some time’

OCR steady at 2.25% with marginal indication of a lift before Christmas.

NZ Herald Live: Christchurch Mayor and Emergency Management Minister update on State of Emergency

Christchurch Mayor and Emergency Management Minister update on State of Emergency in Banks Peninsula. Video / RNZ

NZ Herald Live: Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman explains the OCR decision

Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman explains the decision to keep the Official Cash Rate at 2.25%.

NZ Herald Afternoon Headlines | Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Afternoon Headlines | Kids cut off at Banks Peninsula, review powers over aggressive dogs and police probe Tauranga man’s death | Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Landslip forces evacuations in Dunedin

Emergency crews are at the scene of a landslip in a residential Dunedin suburb, police were alerted to the slip on Belmont Lane in Musselburgh about 10.50am.

Oversight agencies release review, call for faster change to keep children safe

Oversight agencies release review, call for faster change to keep children safe. Video / NZ Herald

Kung fu robots in Beijing

China celebrates Lunar New Year with an impressive human and robot performance.

NZ Herald Live: Announcement of new Pharmac proposal for blood cancer patients

David Seymour and Simeon Brown announce new Pharmac proposal for blood cancer patients.

Luca Harrington sixth in big air final

The Kiwi freeskier started strong but fell short of the podium. Video / Sky Sports

Fletchers anticipates a tough year ahead, Spark cost-out lifts first-half profit

Business with Forsyth Barr: Fletcher Building sees ‘meaningful recovery’ - in 2027 as it drives net debt down; Spark grows mobile revenue, shrinks costs $51m.