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Q+A on tropical cyclones
RNZ asks NIWA forecasting and media principal scientist Chris Brandolino to explain what a tropical cyclone actually is.
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Bird of the Century: What you need to know about pūteketeke
15 Nov 2023New Zealand's Bird of the Century is the pūteketeke but what is it and why is it so special? Here's what you need to know. Audio
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Coalitions, confidence and supply: What you need to know
31 Aug 2023Explainer - Election campaigns are often strewn with debate over potential coalition or other partnership arrangements - here's how it all works.
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Covid-19 restrictions dropped: What you need to know
15 Aug 2023Explainer - The last remaining Covid-19 mandates have been dropped by the government, so what does this mean for Kiwis now? RNZ is here to clear it all up. Audio
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
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Whakaari / White Island trial: What you need to know
11 Jul 2023It has been more than three years since the Whakaari disaster. Here's what you need to know as the trial begins into health and safety failings leading up to the deadly eruption.
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Price hikes and cut costs: What you need to know
1 Jul 2023Explainer - The cost of living is set to rise for NZers after today, as several tax cuts and subsidies end, but other changes have a more positive impact. RNZ is here with what you need to know.
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Next step of the single-use plastics ban: What you need to know
29 Jun 2023Explainer - The next phase of the government's single use plastics ban begins 1 July, and may change some of the ways you shop. RNZ is here with what you need to know.
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Future for Local Government review: What you need to know
21 Jun 2023Explainer - Radical overhaul is needed - that is the conclusion reached by a panel which spent two years reviewing the state of local government. RNZ has all you need to know.
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Sale of Auckland Airport shares: What you need to know
10 Jun 2023Auckland Council has voted to sell 7 percent of its shares in Auckland Airport to reduce its debt and limit rate rises. So what happens now? RNZ has all you need to know.
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Budget 2023: What you need to know before the big day
17 May 2023Explainer - The government has made it clear Budget 2023 will have "no frills" but what will be in it? RNZ has all you need to know ahead of Thursday's announcement.
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Wellington hostel fire: What you need to know
16 May 2023Up to 10 people are dead after a devastating fire ripped through Loafers Lodge in Wellington in the early hours. Here is what we know so far.
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King Charles' coronation: What you need to know
2 May 2023Eight months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles' coronation is soon to take place. RNZ has all you need to know about the event.
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What's wrong with the Emissions Trading Scheme?
29 Apr 2023The Climate Change Commission this week got stuck into the current settings of the Emissions Trading Scheme. Here's what you need to know.
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Latching, hatching and scratching: All you need to know about scabies (but were definitely afraid to ask)
14 Apr 2023Explainer: News of increased scabies cases is enough to make anyone a bit scratchy. So how do you know if you've got the little mites and what can you do? Lucy Corry gets under the skin of the issue.
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Flood-damaged cars: What you need to know
1 Mar 2023With thousands of vehicles water damaged from the Auckland January floods and Cyclone Gabrielle combined, insurance companies are swamped with claims. Drivers face many pitfalls and dilemmas. Here's…
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Explainer: How to be prepared for more rain in hardest-hit cyclone regions
23 Feb 2023More heavy rain is on the way. So what does this mean for the already soaked and flood-damaged regions? And how can we prepare?
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Cyclone Gabrielle: How is your region affected?
15 Feb 2023Cyclone Gabrielle has severely impacted electricity supply and communications in parts of the North Island as it now heads southeast. Check how the situation is unfolding in your region. Audio
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Cyclone Gabrielle: What the national state of emergency means
14 Feb 2023A National State of Emergency has been declared as Cyclone Gabrielle whips the North Island causing flooding, damage and evacuations in many places. But what does this mean?
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Gabrielle batters New Zealand: What you need to know
14 Feb 2023Cyclone Gabrielle is hitting New Zealand hard. Here's what has happened so far, and what to expect over the coming days.
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Cleaning up a flood damaged property and claiming insurance: What you need to know
31 Jan 2023Explainer - The wide-spread weather event that continues to affect the upper North Island has left thousands of properties damaged by floodwaters, requiring a massive clean-up. Audio
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What is a state of emergency and who can call it?
28 Jan 2023A state of emergency was declared to deal with the unprecedented flooding in Auckland. But what is a state of emergency and what powers does it grant?
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Replacing the RMA: What you need to know
21 Dec 2022Explainer - Back from the dead, cobbled together from old parts and handed to the NBA: It's not Frankenstein's monster playing basketball, it's the government's RMA replacements.
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Fuel tax cuts: What you need to know
Explainer - Fuel and public transport subsidies have been rolled over, again, for now - but for most of us the days of cheaper transport are coming to an end. Here's what you need to know.
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House prices: What you need to know
Explainer - House prices are continuing to drop at the same time interest rates are climbing - but what does that mean for sellers and buyers?
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Qatar FIFA World Cup controversy: What you need to know
12 Dec 2022Explainer - The Qatar FIFA World Cup has been surrounded by controversy around worker's rights, same-sex relationships and allegations of corruption. RNZ is here to clear it all up.
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What is the disease forcing Celine Dion to cancel her shows?
Explainer - Celine Dion has cancelled some upcoming shows after revealing she has a rare illness called stiff person syndrome. What is it and is there a cure? Here's what you need to know.
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Recession: What you need to know
25 Nov 2022Explainer - Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr says it's the price New Zealanders will have to pay to get inflation under control - but what exactly is a recession and what could it mean for you? Audio
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The OCR: What you need to know
23 Nov 2022Explainer - The Reserve Bank is expected to raise the official cash rate (OCR) by its largest margin ever today, and economists say it could rise further still. Audio
Top News stories
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- Te Pāti Māori calls for nationwide protest against government's co-governance policies
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