The Briefing
New Zealand
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Annual meteor shower to be visible in NZ skies
11:26 am todayThe best chance to view the meteor shower is Monday morning between 2am and sunrise.
Fireworks bans issued in parts of South Canterbury, as region prepares for summer
Weather: Heavy rain, severe gales to lash South Island
Politics
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'Opportunity to stamp my own mark': Hipkins promises different Labour
9:13 am todayThe last election saw Labour's six years in government end, with Hipkins returning to the opposition benches just 10 months after becoming prime minister.
Media in the middle of fudge stunts, debate drama and 'right v left' rows
Christopher Luxon mounts leadership defence: 'I know what it took to rebuild'
Sport
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A-League: Wellington Phoenix fall to Newcastle Jets
6:41 pm todayA disastrous seven-minute spell has proved costly, as they slumped to defeat at home.
Football: Auckland City claim back-to-back National League titles after penalty shootout
Football: Indian fans riot after Messi visit to Kolkata
Business
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Rising home loan rates blamed on 'another misstep from Reserve Bank'
Miscommunication from the Reserve Bank has driven interest rates higher than they should be, Kiwibank economists say.
If I die without kids, does the government get my KiwiSaver? - Ask Susan
Warner Bros Discovery battle draws in billionaires, celebrities and Trump's son-in-law
More News & Current Affairs
In Case You Missed It
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Mitchell's last word on McSkimming, the IPCA report and 36 emails
13 Dec 2025Police Minister Mark Mitchell talks about the moment he found out about Ms Z, his relationship with Coster, and why emails were diverted from his office.
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Stars in town, movie buffs amped for Avatar 3 premiere
12 Dec 2025Filmmaker James Cameron will be in the capital with actors Cliff Curtis and Sam Worthington for the premiere of Avatar 3: Fire and Ash.
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NZ's last seal in zoo euthanised, leaves behind 'special legacy'
12 Dec 2025Health conditions and a deteriorating habitat has seen Auckland Zoo farewell its only seal, Ōrua.
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A breakdown of your no-bra summer
12 Dec 2025Increasingly, women are ditching underwire bras with copious padding, preferring natural shapes and fewer worries for nipple show.
RNZ Music
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Hymns on Sunday, 14 December 2025
Hymns for the Third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete Sunday) include John Rutter's Angels' Carol, Rejoice! Rejoice at Christmas time by New Zealand hymn writer Bill Wallace, and Tell out, my soul, which is a paraphrase of the Magnificat. Audio
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Things are looking rosy for this Buttercup
NZ singer Rhonda Browne gets her first role with English National Opera, singing Buttercup in Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. Video, Audio
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Pianists to star at The Piano in 2026
Marcus Norman, manager of the Christchurch music venue The Piano, chats about next year's International pianist recital series. Audio
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Listen to an extravaganza of baroque music
Enjoy all the elegance and grandeur of an evening out in 17th-century Europe. This NZSO concert features courtly music by some of the most masterful composers of the baroque era, which popularised a lead voice supported by harmony.
In Depth
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'Rock and a hard place': Inside the forced move from gas
Behind the nation's energy crisis are businesses quietly fighting to survive - many feel they have nothing but bad options. Audio
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Tom Phillips' gun licence revoked months before disappearance
New information outlines a key moment in the Marokopa timeline, but leaves major gaps unanswered.
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ACC's financial squeeze: The human toll
People like father Jacob Hamlin and his family have wound up in hardship as the agency pushes more people off long-term claims to get costs under control.
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NZ Cricket chief 'on leave' as spat escalates
Scott Weenink is said to be in a "state of purgatory" with former greats dismayed over a "campaign to see the CEO removed". Audio
What You Need to Know
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How can I cool down my house in summer?
Explainer - If you're starting to swelter as temperatures around the country rise, you might be wondering how best to cool your house.
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Why does New Zealand take such a long summer holiday break?
Are our summer breaks too long? And how did they become a Kiwi institution?
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'24-7 every day of the year' - Who runs Auckland's traffic?
Explainer - It looks like Mission Control, but it's actually where traffic for Auckland and much of the North Island is managed. Video, Audio
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What is open banking, and how does it work?
Explainer - It's often touted as a way New Zealanders could get a better deal on their banking - but how?
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Fearful Symmetries
Comment & Analysis
Americans think Trump knew about Epstein's alleged crimes
Analysis: But it's not just a poll that suggests the public believes he has something to hide.
Faster, cheaper … but better? The devil in the RMA reform detail
Anaylsis: When the government this week unveiled reforms to finally replace the RMA, many of us would have been glad to see the back of it, writes Bill McKay.
Data reveals what crash delays really cost Auckland
Analysis - Rolling back speed limits ignores the hidden costs of delays caused by an increased number of crashes, Timothy Welch writes.
Why the government shouldn't bring oral nicotine pouches to NZ
Tobacco and nicotine companies want to introduce oral nicotine pouches, claiming these are a "cleaner way to enjoy nicotine".