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We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Opinion: Riding on a bus is a privilege, not a right
Opinion: The bus stop boycott is showing users what they are missing out on

Opinion: Cost of housing infrastructure everyone's responsibility
Opinion: Property development is a business and you have to spend money to make money.

Fundraiser sets $10k goal after friend's battle
Heinz Fett has helped raise thousands for cancer but he's not done yet.

Opinion: Moaning about some plants? Give me a break
Opinion: But residents have every right to complain about turning reserves into housing

'It's unique, it's quirky': Inside the venue that doesn't want to hear the same old cover bands
'You know what that song sounds like? You don't need to listen to it again,' owner says.

TikTok doesn't have to be a black hole your time disappears into
Opinion: Everything in moderation, including social media, says Zizi Sparks.

Zizi Sparks: What no-one told me about planning a wedding in a pandemic
Opinion: No one told me a lot of things, but on the day none of it mattered.

Zizi Sparks: Lowering superannuation age for Māori not a long-term fix
Opinion: Maybe we should focus on increasing life expectancy so this isn't necessary.

Zizi Sparks: Remove some mandates, keep commonsense
Opinion: Even if rules are changed, we need to take some personal responsibility.

Zizi Sparks: How is teaching not a critical service?
Opinion: Teachers deserve to have access to rapid testing.

Zizi Sparks: Why those opposed to compulsory te reo in schools miss the point
Opinion: There are more pros than cons to studying te reo.

'Spirit of a lion': Nahne, 32, dies after year-long cancer battle
"When it was time to go she told us ... She told us she'd had enough and to let her go."

How long is too long? Keeping kids off screens, devices this holiday
Instead of staring at a device, children can read, be creative or be active.

Zizi Sparks: Orange brings freedom but not complacency
Opinion: Keep enjoying summer and supporting local but don't break the rules.

Zizi Sparks: A thank you to our holiday heroes
OPINION: Not everyone gets a two-week break over new year, don't forget holiday heroes.

'Don't feel like I'm dying': How one woman with stage 4 cancer is beating the odds
Nahne Marsters was given a 13 per cent chance of seeing Christmas. She's still fighting.

Zizi Sparks: How I'm going to rest and recuperate this summer
OPINION: Personally, I plan to eat, drink and sleep and reunite with loved ones.

Zizi Sparks: Nation should move to orange now
OPINION: Businesses are begging for relief

Zizi Sparks: That's zed-eye-zed-eye
Opinion: Having a unique name has its ups and downs.

Zizi Sparks: Are MIQ changes too risky?
OPINION: I hope the Government has through about enforcing the rules.

Comment: My painful reminder to prepare before enjoying the sun
OPINION: It's only November and I've already ticked up a summer first I'm not proud of

Zizi Sparks: How early is too early for Christmas decorations?
Opinion: There is no hard and fast rule but I'll be holding off decorating for now

Repeat sex offender jailed for almost five years
Court hears repeat offender showed a lack of insight in relation to his crimes.

'The day we knew would come is here': Covid cases in Rotorua
Contact tracing for the two cases is under way.

Twelve police staff came into contact with Rotorua Covid cases
The staff are all self-isolating and have been tested.

Zizi Sparks: Kiwis should be doing everything to reduce the risk of Covid-19
Opinion: Workers facing vaccine mandates need to see the bigger picture.

'Scary time to be in tourism': Accommodation hit hard, data shows
Occupancy rates for short-term accommodation are at their lowest since June last year.

Two bore casings failed in three weeks - coincidence or sign of more action?
A volcanologist explains why bore casings fail.

Officer fishing illegally broke conduct code
The Independent Police Conduct Authority oversaw the investigation

I'm planning a pandemic wedding - and it's quite a challenge
Opinion: I don't even know what the alert level will be next week let alone in six months.

Super Saturday sees great vaccination turnout
Others wanted to get double vaccinated so they could 'get out and enjoy summer'.

'I'm doing what's right': Why some people changed their minds this Super Saturday
Super Saturday was the push some people needed to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Zizi Sparks: Government needs to explain vaccine passport workings
Opinion: We urgently need more clarity on just how vaccine passports will work

No excuses not to read
Opinion: Reading books doesn't need to be a chore or time-consuming.

Employee 'shocked and blindsided' by dismissal awarded $27k
The woman was dismissed just weeks after complaining of discrimination and bullying.

Zizi Sparks: Something needs to change to keep teachers working
Opinion: Figures show how many teachers and principals left the profession recently

Zizi Sparks: Tighten Auckland border or risk a larger outbreak
Opinion: The border seems to be leaking like a sieve

Ten tips to supercharge your spring clean
If you don't know where to start with your clean, try making a schedule and plan

Zizi Sparks: Rename New Zealand and move on to bigger issues
OPINION: The name of this country is hardly the biggest issue facing us right now.

Zizi Sparks: Spread MIQ facilities into other cities
OPINION: It's time for other locations to step up and take on MIQ.

Zizi Sparks: Level 2 relief needed for struggling business owners
OPINION: While some businesses are operating, other are stuck in limbo.

What spring could bring for Bay of Plenty weather
The spring forecast follows NZ's warmest winter on record.

Dads never stop teaching their daughters
Opinion: I can't even think of all the things my father has taught me.

Zizi Sparks: 10 things I love about lockdown
OPINION: It is hard to accept going back into lockdown after more than a year of freedom.

Zizi Sparks: Supermarket trips can be a lockdown highlight but think twice
Opinion: Supermarket shopping is the highlight of my week but it can be disappointing.

Zizi Sparks: Lockdown should be extended by a week at a time
Opinion: Having a fixed finish line will be a big help.

Zizi Sparks: Tracer app usage needs to become habit
Opinion: We can all do better. This time, we can't let our scanning patterns wane

Ratepayers rack up $11m debt in Hot Swap home heating loans
A ban on certain types of home heating came with a cost for thousands of residents.

'A rich man's resource': How geothermal changes affected families
Changes have had "significant" impacts on health, social and cultural wellbeing of whānau.

Zizi Sparks: Ageing well starts off early
Opinion: Why wait until retirement to live a healthy life?

Almost 11,000 people go through Rotorua MIQ
A fraction of the returnees in Rotorua MIQ facilities have tested positive for Covid-19.

And, action: Bay of Plenty film industry booming as three women take helm
Film Bay of Plenty's restructure sees three women take charge of a booming industry.

Jabs with a difference: Get vaccinated, Pasifika-style
A Covid-19 Pasifika Vaccination Night is being held on August 23.

'You can make a better life': Teen who crashed stolen ute given second chance
The sentencing judge said he wanted to give the teenager a chance to 'break the cycle'.

Zizi Sparks: Housing inquiry should give solutions as well as answers
Opinion: We need more than inquiries if we want to make a difference.

'It feels like half of me is gone': Crash victim's husband gives emotional statement
Pastor sentenced for causing the death of a nurse who cared for Whakaari victims.

'No punishment in this world can be big enough': Life imprisonment for double murders
A jury had found Samuel Fane guilty of murdering Paul Lasslett and Nicholas Littlewood.

Zizi Sparks: Now is the time to be patriotic
OPINION: Whether you wanted the Olympics to be cancelled or not, they are happening.

Zizi Sparks: It's the perfect time to re-examine debt
OPINION: Interest rates are at a low and you could save thousands by revisiting debt.

Major roadworks prompt 270 inquiries to NZTA
They range from complaints to positive feedback.

Zizi Sparks: CrossFit competition renews drive to improve
Opinion: We might not have succeeded in the traditional sense, but we learned from it

Business boost: Motels booked out, activities 'manic' as school holiday visitors rush in
"We're so appreciative of all New Zealanders visiting."

Policeman fined for fishing without licence, giving false details
Constable Zane Roberts, 26, will also be subject to an internal police investigation.

Zizi Sparks: School exclusions warranted, but more could be done to prevent them
OPINION: We should be trying to help children first.

Zizi Sparks: What owning a dog has taught me
Opinion: We should take a leaf out of a dog's life.

Zizi Sparks: We need more GPs but how can we attract them?
Opinion: Becoming a GP needs to be more attractive.

'Emaciated' cows die as farmer says grazing them a 'burden'
Many yearlings in the herd were half the size they should have been at that age.

Zizi Sparks: What's needed to fix our CBDs
Opinion: Councils need to think outside the box.

Zizi Sparks: The pros and cons of being perpetually positive
Opinion: I would rather be always positive, than always negative and cynical.

How Trustpower sale would affect local customers and staff
Trustpower has been sold to Mercury for $441m, pending certain conditions.

Zizi Sparks: The Covid-19 vaccine race is on
Opinion: Getting the vaccine is a no-brainer and NZ needs to pick up the pace.

One foot after the other for dancing runners
Jonathan Hagger and Debbie Holmes have done long-distance races, this is a new challenge.

Zizi Sparks: How I'm learning to embrace winter
Opinion: But don't talk to me about the cold.

Zizi Sparks: Who says you can't be happy in a nine-to-five?
Opinion: It feels like some life coaches imply I need to quit my job to be truly happy.

Zizi Sparks: People deserve to be able to do their jobs without abuse
Opinion: Abusing people trying to do their jobs is unacceptable.

Zizi Sparks: Why the nurses' strike is justified
Opinion: Nurses are vital, so they should be valued and paid accordingly.

Opinion: How to stay motivated to exercise this winter
Opinion: It can be hard to stay motivated to exercise in winter.

About the Budget: What to know before the announcement
Opinion: Already the Government has dished out millions of dollars.