The Briefing
New Zealand
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'Should have known the risks': Winning horse and trainer test positive for meth
1:57 am todayIval Brownlee claimed he hadn't used since 2012 - but hair tests proved otherwise.
Christchurch terrorist made almost 700 complaints about life in prison
Businesses face hard times in months following Tongariro fire
Politics
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Stanford hails $3.39b boost from new 'golden visa'
The immigration minister said 573 applications had been received since changes to the investor visa took effect last April.
Opposition finds change to school lunch scheme's name hard to swallow
Relying on tug boat from Australia risks lives, council leaders say
Sport
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Highlanders score massive upset over Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific opener
13 Feb 2026A late Cam Millar kick and an outstanding defensive effort saw Jamie Joseph's side pull off the unexpected victory.
Fans of Madison Chock and Evan Bates launch petition questioning Olympic ice dance result
Black Foils boss Peter Burling first to earn SailGP demerit points for Perth scrape with Swiss
Business
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Tourist arrivals top 3.5 million for first time since Covid-19 pandemic
Stats NZ numbers show overseas visitors hit 3.51 million in the year ended December 2025, up six percent from the prior year.
Biggest bank makes low-deposit property investment easier
Buying a house with friends or family? Watch out
More News & Current Affairs
In Case You Missed It
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Stop horsing around: What to expect in the Year of the Horse
13 Feb 2026A horse year favours action over hesitation, but also carries connotations of volatility and intensity, among other things.
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What's with the AI caricatures taking over social media feeds?
12:08 am todayThe caricatures are meant to be a culmination of everything ChatGPT knows about a person, but they have also brought up questions around privacy and personal…
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Single mum 'repaying $8 a fortnight' after insurance confusion
13 Feb 2026Customers are being caught out by large changes in the valuation of their vehicles.
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Spooky 'grim reaper' shows up on crash victim's medical scan
13 Feb 2026The person was unharmed, but the New Zealand Medical Journal has highlighted the case an an example of pareidolia.
RNZ Music
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At the limits of Artificial Intelligence
Composer Sophie Burbery is doing a PhD on AI creativity and feminism. Audio
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Lorde shows NZ her slick, new superstar era
Lorde's Auckland homecoming is a big 'screw you' to those who ever (wrongly) called the Kiwi a 'one hit wonder'.
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The best seat in the house
Pianist and vocal coach Rosemary Barnes is the "official accompanist" at this year's Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition on at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau this Sunday. Audio
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Jumping in the deep end
Conductor Giordano Bellincampi has chosen the Auckland Philharmonia to play his first ever performance of a lush, late romantic tone poem. Audio
In Depth
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What went wrong at New Zealand Cricket?
In a flurry of open dispute, NZ Cricket lost its chief executive. But still, none of the disagreements have been resolved.
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Are we stuck in a 'crisis and response' pattern?
Experts say the bill for disasters will only continue to rise unless we make changes.
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How poo-detecting dogs can help native birds flourish
Kiwi have started to hatch on Waiheke Island and may thrive with the help of special detection dogs helping eliminate the last of the island's pests.
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Integrity probe into Yachting NZ drags into second year
The Sport Integrity Commission's first major investigation, triggered by dozens of complaints about Yachting NZ, remains unfinished a year on.
What You Need to Know
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What happens next for NZ Post?
Explainer - It's closing service counters and cutting delivery days. What does the future of mail look like? Audio
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How fake NZ news pages are swamping Facebook with AI slop
Analysis - "Fake NZ news" pages are bombarding social media with misleading slop, including using AI to animate photos of a teenage landslide victim. Audio
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What to know about the entity replacing Wellington Water
Explainer- Ratepayers in the Wellington metropolitan area will have two bills from 1 July as new water entity Tiaki Wai steps up.
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What Kiwis should know about the Nipah virus
Explainer - What is the Nipah virus, and why is it raising concerns about travel from parts of Asia? Here's what you need to know. Audio
Radio on demand
Recently updated shows
Comment & Analysis
NRL Indigenous All Stars vs Māori match much more than a novelty
First staged in 2010, the fixture was not conceived as a marketing stunt, but as a deliberate exercise in showcasing Indigenous excellence and its contribution.
Four lessons NZ should take from another summer of weather disasters
Another summer of extreme weather has destroyed and damaged homes, cut off communities and, in the most tragic cases, left families mourning their loved ones.
Natural hydrogen can make decarbonising industry cheaper
Currently, "green" hydrogen - made by splitting water with renewable electricity - costs more than $12 per kilogram.
AI researchers sounding alarm on way out the door
Analysis: In just the past few days, a number of high-profile AI staffers have decided to call it quits.