Latest from Wellington

The final countdown: All you need to know for Auckland FC's path to A-League history
The semifinal is played on aggregate; Auckland FC lead 1-0 so far.

'Symbol of hope': Winning photo 'reclaims Māori narrative' amid cultural unrest
The "powerful" photo allowed people to see their tūpuna in the face of a child.

Matthew Hooton: Budget reveals we’re going broke faster than we knew
OPINION: Gross debt is projected to increase by $73b, reaching $283b by 2029.

NZ's top finance professionals: Deals of the year revealed
Who won what and why? The big winners at the Infinz Awards.

Govt chooses $6.6b tax relief policy for businesses over corporate tax cut
Accountants say it could have achieved the same thing with a more targeted approach.

'Harder on the younger generation': Will Budget changes push Kiwis overseas?
The public share their thoughts on changes to Best Start, KiwiSaver and student loans.

Inside the mushroom mystery: Key evidence in triple-murder trial
An officer searched Melbourne grocers for two days after a mushroom poisoning.

Liam Dann: Upbeat Treasury forecasts GDP growth, rising house prices
Opinion: Treasury's Budget forecasts paint an optimistic picture – but are they too rosy?

Budget 2025: $212m in cuts to existing business, science and innovation programmes
No surprises in another thin year for the sector.

PM says Budget ‘backs growth’, Labour claims KiwiSaver cuts make workers up to $66k worse off
'National backs growth and I’m telling you, Labour wants to tax it,' the PM said today.

Govt offers $200m for would-be gas investors
Shane Jones says the fund allows the Crown to take a 10%-15% stake.

$20k triumph: How Taniwha Chasers captivated judges at portrait awards
An Ōpōtiki local's photograph Taniwha Chasers was chosen from 41 finalists.

'Strongest performers': Rural areas leading NZ's economic recovery
Rural economies were buoyed by better prices for dairy, meat and horticulture exports.

Train station heckler 'apologetic' and upset after swearing at Winston Peters
The man was tearful when visited by the Herald this morning.

Council's pivotal meeting to decide fate of key Wellington projects
More than 3000 submissions were received for the amended long-term budget.

'Generational, life-defining' prize: Porirua supermarket decks out store for Lotto's $17m winner
The winning ticket was sold at New World Whitby in Porirua.

How first-home buyers are moving ahead in a challenging market
Many buyers are getting into their first homes with much smaller deposits.

Central Districts get vote of confidence from racing bosses
Key questions answered over immediate future of crucial Central Districts racetracks

Lotto Powerball: Have you won big in tonight’s $17 million draw?
Time to check your numbers for tonight's multimillion-dollar Lotto Powerball draw.

Teen who bashed mother to death with dumbbell says life sentence is unfair
Jordan Taylor's lawyers say his upbringing and age should have been taken into account.

Opinion: Will Auckland's food snobs ever be satisfied?
How restaurants are feeding a city's obsession with eating the next big thing.

'Foul, filthy language': Peters hits back after heckler's employer criticised for investigation
Tonkin + Taylor apologised after their employee heckled Winston Peters.

Super Rugby teams: All Blacks back in action for Crusaders
All the ins-and-outs ahead of the 15th round of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

'Deeply concerning': NZ's cruise industry sounds alarm as ship visits drop 40%
Despite an initial rebound post-Covid, cruise bookings have dropped sharply this season.

The Doctors Bayfair opens new 'purpose-built' medical practice
The new space allows staff to better support the needs of the 'rapidly growing' community.

'Grossest depravity': Man jailed for helping run child sex abuse website
Family bewildered 'gentle and loyal man' could be involved in harming children.

Listen: Peters says he won't feel bad if railway heckler is sacked
Tonkin + Taylor has apologised to the Deputy PM about the incident.

'Another instrument of tracking': Critics slam ANPR bill
ANPR cameras would charge fees for using busy roads during peak times.

How a Kiwi mother and daughter are transforming hygiene with wool
Woolchemy won the Idea Raw Material Achievement Award for neweFibre.