8+ hour, 1+ min ago   (569+ words) All Blacks assistant coach Neil Barnes is convinced the All Blacks are “seriously close” to the Springboks after their defeat in Baltimore, but lamented some of the decisions that went against them in the match. The South Africans won 43-28 in…...

5+ hour, 26+ min ago   (1143+ words) Winston Aldworth rates the best and worst All Blacks performers from their 43-28 defeat against the Springboks in Baltimore. 1. Ethan de Groot – 4 Slipped when he needed to put a tryline tackle on Damien de Allende in the 14th minute. The fact he…...

10+ hour, 30+ min ago   (990+ words) When former Shortland Street star Rebekah Randell welcomed her second daughter earlier this year, she braced herself for another challenging newborn experience. But while big sister Isla struggled with colic as a baby, little Bonnie has been the complete opposite…...

2+ day, 11+ hour ago   (911+ words) It’s been a “massive” week of “go, go, go” for Tauranga as the city rolled out the “red carpet” for more than 30,000 visitors in town for the Zespri Aims Games. One of the biggest-ever editions of the annual tournament wraps…...

2+ day, 12+ hour ago   (262+ words) Several major milestones have been reached in pokies sector compliance, The Department of Internal Affairs said today. The milestones follow an investigation into how class 4 gambling operators, commonly known as pokies trusts, accounted for and distributed gambling proceeds. The Department…...

2+ day, 12+ hour ago   (507+ words) Christchurch Airport is positioning itself as much more than an aviation gateway, writes Fran O'Sullivan. Fifteen years after the earthquakes tore the heart out of New Zealand’s second-largest city, Christchurch has completed one of the most remarkable urban rebuilds in…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago   (1050+ words) More powers to deport criminal non-citizens, demanding the immigration portfolio and a referendum on capping resident visas at 20,000 are among the raft of immigration policies New Zealand First will take to the election. The party is announcing 14 policies as part…...

2+ day, 18+ hour ago   (397+ words) Many used to call it a distraction. Linking players’ performance to their online presence. Critiquing athletes who used their downtime to share their experiences with others. And yet social media is now clearly the glue helping fans stick with their…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago   (649+ words) Council has an alternative to bed tax Auckland Council and other councils invited the Government to introduce a bed tax for visitors. This tax has been declined but with an offer of a share in the International Visitor Levy (IVL). Meantime…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago   (998+ words) Auckland schools released their out-of-zone ballots this week – hear from one family that struck it lucky as a number of schools close their doors. Illustration / Paul Slater The out-of-zone lottery that once decided the futures for thousands of Year 9 Auckland…...