Waikato DHB has dismissed the idea that paying a ransom after its cyber attack would have been easier than having its entire computer system put out of action for such a long time.

A health advocacy group wants New Zealand sports to wean themselves off sponsorship deals with alcohol brands.

A whitebaiting group is happy with the Department of Conservation's new approach to managing the fishery, but environmentalists say DOC just keeps getting it wrong.

The lawyer of a group of Chinese men says it is disappointing his clients were not allowed to stay in New Zealand despite their employer being charged.

Two people have been charged in relation to the serious assault of a four-year-old boy in Hawke's Bay last year.

The prime minister says the government should take a look at a possible gap in laws protecting people from sexualised online abuse following allegations against a former National Party candidate.

Wellington City Council wants to launch into negotiations with central government to get access to a key rent subsidy to solve financial woes with its City Housing portfolio.

The Department of Corrections has hit back against criticism from the Chief Ombudsman following inspections last year of Christchurch Men's and Whanganui Prisons.

English language schools are warning that their entire industry could cease to exist by the end of the year.

Whitebaiting will now only be allowed in estuaries and near river mouths, and it will be paused in parts of some national parks. The season will be shorter and so will nets.

Niue's first delivery of Covid-19 vaccines has arrived. The nation's high commissioner hopes it won't be long now until it can join the Pacific travel bubble.

A single household water supply could incur a bill of $14,000 annually in coming decades.

Testing of the Ashburton River bridge to see if it can safely reopen to heavy vehicles is now underway after a delay this morning.

Authorities will be reviewing the pause on quarantine-free travel to Victoria tomorrow, and New Zealand is beating its vaccination targets, officials say.

An officer used excessive and unjustified force on a drunk and aggressive man, the police watchdog says.

The government has been warned that closing down the country's only oil refinery could expose New Zealand to fuel security risks.

The Ombudsman has just made damning comments on "undignified and barren" conditions of at least two prisons, saying Corrections has not rectified issues he highlighted earlier.

Medsafe is now considering whether the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, so far only approved for people aged over 16, is safe for 12- to 15-year-olds.