Lauren Crimp

The ACT Party leader says NZ previously got by just fine with fewer public servants.

Councils are facing "extreme financial pressure" - but it means communities miss out, advocate says.

Thousands of public servants are suffering a double blow - out of work, in a struggling economy that's tipped to remain stagnant.

Public Service Minister Nicola Willis was grilled at the governance and administration select committee today about the thousands of job losses.

A 31-year-old has been charged with murder after a man died after a fight.

The community as a whole has to take responsibility, the Wellington City missioner says.

There will also be voluntary and proposed redundancies of permanent employees.

But the man's name will be kept secret to allow him time to appeal.

A weekend Levin car meet-up that descended into chaos has been labelled "ridiculous" and "disgusting" - and it's car enthusiasts who are being critical.

Streets were packed as thousands rallied nationwide against policies on Māori, as Te Pāti Māori announced plans for a separate parliament. Audio

With the lid set to be lifted on the Budget - a slew of major government departments are yet to say what is happening to staff.

The Taxpayers' Union wants to see the public service pared back to at least 2017 levels. Audio

The government payment designed to help people struggling to pay for housing hasn't been increased in six years.

The "brutal" change proposal has left many in tears, angry, and feeling like they have been "sold down the river", a staff member says.

Napier Family Centre says the number of calls seeking help has doubled in a day, and it expects more people to reach out as the wet weather continues.

When Sir Bryan Williams first saw Sid Going on the field, he was just a schoolboy. The pair would go on to make history together.

With the airport closed and no staff at the consulate, New Zealanders are feeling like they've "just been left alone".

Debt to banks has jumped more than 20 percent as more and more whānau are barely scraping by.

Phillip John Smith had been trying to overturn a ban on sex between prisoners at a criminal treatment unit.

"We are disturbed that this doesn't come with any evidence," Chris Cahill says of newly announced gang units. Audio

The scale of catastrophe Aotearoa would face after an earthquake and tsunami from our largest fault has been laid bare.

The government will not continue funding debt solution providers which help people struggling to pay off their loans, raising concerns for people's mental health in a cost of living crisis.

With some services facing closure after missing out on the latest government funding, there are concerns for some of NZ's most vulnerable people.

The agency recently changed the way it counts vacancies so it is more accurate.

Some families earning $150,000 still can't get into rent-to-own homes due to soaring personal debt, says Habitat for Humanity.