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The inside story of Jacinda Ardern’s resignation and rise of a new PM
On Friday, January 13, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told one of the very few people who knew she was thinking about resigning that she had made her final decision.
Ranked: The greatest All Blacks coaches of all time
There are two guaranteed by-products of being an All Blacks coach - unyielding power and unrivaled scrutiny. The right man for the job, and/or his shortcomings polarise the nation. It's never been more evident than by the current situation. Ian Foster was judged the right man to lead the All Blacks in 2023, but not in 2024. The next five weeks will determine who will be the 29th All Blacks coach.... the greatest ongoing drama in New Zealand sport. Today, we look back on the history of the role - and who did it best
CEO Pay Survey: NZ’s top bosses richer than ever following big pay rises
The country’s most powerful bosses have cashed in on the pre-Covid bull market, with the value of the average chief executive pay packet soaring over the past year.
McMillionaires: The McDonald's franchisee power list
Some McDonald’s Kiwi franchisees own five or six outlets: happy times for Happy Meals for this crew.
'Don’t f**k me over' - Wayne Brown's 30min phone call with the Herald
“Don’t f**k me over,” says Wayne Brown, mayor of Auckland, after about 30 minutes of a frank discussion with the Herald.
Reading block: NZ's falling literacy crisis - why our kids can't read
NZ children used to lead the world in reading. Now our literacy rates have fallen so sharply that almost half our students are below their expected reading level when they finish primary school and one in five 15-year-olds do not have basic reading proficiency. In the first of a three-part series education reporter Dubby Henry asks how we got into this position - and more importantly, what are we doing to get out?
'I'm glad I got caught': Inside the arrest of musician found with 20kg meth at airport
When the rest of New Zealand was stuck at home in the Covid lockdown, Romney Fukofuka was busted on the way home with 20kg of meth in his suitcase. Now facing a long stint in prison, the musician called Konecs believes the mistake has saved his life.
The 'Innocent Agent' sent on a revenge mission that turned fatal
Steve Braunias follows the strange and tragic case of an intellectually impaired loner procured to burn down a house – but who set himself on fire, and died in agony.
The rise and fall of Ron Brierley: From famed corporate raider to infamous criminal
Known for his daring corporate endeavours, love of cricket and collectables, a famed Kiwi businessman's life achievements are now tarnished by exploiting society's most vulnerable.
Luxon's first year as leader: Tackling Ardern and her 'career politician' colleagues
With a year to go before the next election and polls suggesting Christopher Luxon could become the next Prime Minister, Audrey Young talks to the National leader about his preparation for the role.
Spirited away? The baffling mystery of the teen tourist who vanished in the dawn
Steve Braunias investigates the disappearance of a French teenager.
'Life ended in that instant': Could we have saved 'joyful, bubbly' Cassandra?
She was a teenager who seemed to have everything going for her. But for two years she endured a devastating spiral into mental illness. Why couldn't she be saved?
'It's unforgivable': The real reason Louisa Wall quit politics
Louisa Wall is grieving, there is no mistaking that. Beneath the excited exterior about the challenge of a fresh start after she leaves Parliament is a weeping wound about how she comes to be leaving.
The highs and lows of a Kiwi cult hero: Lance Cairns on life, loss and his famous son Chris
He is one of New Zealand's most distinctive cult heroes, and had a connection with an adoring public few sports people can even dream of.
'Someone has taken him': The mysterious disappearance of Lachie Jones
Three-year-old Lachie Jones disappeared on a summer evening three years ago and was found floating face up in an oxidation pond south of his home in Gore a few hours later. Police decided it was an accidental drowning but his father Paul Jones cannot believe it - and he's not alone, as Kurt Bayer found out.
Power List: The top 25 Foodstuffs supermarket owner operators
Supermarket ownership is a path to wealth like few others but it’s by no means an easy ride or a given right for those who have grocery retailing in their blood. Duncan Bridgeman uncovers 25 of the top Foodstuffs owner operators and finds out what it takes to get there.
NZ's meth crisis: The rural towns bearing the brunt
Two decades after meth first took hold, New Zealand has failed to curb the drug's popularity and the devastating social harm caused by addiction. New data from wastewater testing shows the burden is not shared evenly. Jared Savage reports.
The 5-year hunt for Comancheros gang boss
Sitting in the sunshine at a Mt Maunganui cafe, sipping coffee with his mum, Duax Ngakuru looked like any other bloke on his summer break.
Terrorist unmasked - the refugee who turned on NZ
The Islamic State supporter who stabbed at least five shoppers in an Auckland supermarket before being shot dead can now be identified - and along with it the full story of how a young man who turned to New Zealand for help as a refugee became radicalised in his own living room.
What happened to Olivia Podmore? Deceit, despair and the death of an Olympian
The death of 24-year-old cyclist Olivia Podmore the day after the Tokyo Games shocked the nation. Over the four months since her death, reporter Tom Dillane has spoken to family, friends and numerous sources inside and out of Cycling NZ. Podmore's own life was both exceptional and ordinary. An outstanding athlete, she also faced many of the trials of an ordinary teenager and young adult. Flirtation with drugs, abortion, and the battles to rise to the top of her sporting field. The crushing disappointment often part of that ambition and a string of personal misfortunes all silently converged to a tragic end.
A mother and her baby died in Auckland Hospital. This is what went wrong
Last year, four mothers and three of their babies died during or shortly after giving birth at Auckland City Hospital, in a highly unusual cluster of tragedy that sparked multiple investigations. The family of one mother and baby have broken their silence to tell investigations reporter Nicholas Jones why change is urgently needed.
Cool, calm and connected: Meet New Zealand's top lobbyists
They speak the language of Government for well-paying clients, leading to claims of influence for hire. So who are New Zealand's top lobbyists? Since the change in Government in 2017 the game is increasingly dominated by figures with links to the Labour Party. Hamish Rutherford reports.
The pandemic papers: The inside story of how our cobbled together lockdown nearly came undone
The level 4 lockdown was 32 of the most dramatic days in New Zealand's history. Normal life petrified in suburban homes and designated survivor lists were drawn up in the Beehive. The mood shifted at 1pm each day from initial dread and anxiety, to cautious hope and - finally - relief. Matt Nippert follows the path New Zealand took in the second part of his series reviewing the Pandemic Papers, 2540 pages of recently released cabinet documents and speaking to insiders. He finds that New Zealand could have emerged from isolated bubbles on April 27 into quite a different country.
Chasing Kipchoge: A quest to run like the world's fastest man
It was described as world sport's equivalent of putting a man on the moon - the day Eliud Kipchoge achieved the "impossible" by running the first sub two-hour marathon.
America's Cup whistleblowers feared for their safety: 'We're no traitors'
For Mayo & Calder, the America's Cup was meant to be 'the pinnacle'. After months of silence in the face of claims that they were 'spies', the America's Cup whistleblowers break their silence on why they felt they had to go to the Government.
Rob Fyfe: Preparing us and business for a life after Covid-19 and lockdown
Rob Fyfe, who has been catapulted into the national coronavirus command centre, wants business to prepare for living in a "Covid-19 world" for the foreseeable future.
When the call came: Inside Jacinda Ardern's 72 hours after mosque attacks
The unprecedented terror attack in Christchurch created a situation no New Zealand government has ever had to face. Senior writer Claire Trevett reveals how the political response unfolded.
White Island, black day: Inside the tragedy on Whakaari
On Monday, at 2.11pm, Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty erupted. Forty-seven people were on the small, volcanic island at the time.
History to Heartbreak: Inside story of ABs' World Cup agony
Patrick McKendry followed the All Blacks for over 50 days across the tournament. This is the full story of how New Zealand’s heartbreak found a happy ending.
Inside the coalition: Who's really running the country?
Back in October 2017, NZ First leader Winston Peters announced change was the will of the people, and so he chose change.
Boardroom power rankings: Who's delivering, and who needs to do better
Who bosses the bosses? Directors, that's who. But who watches them? Investigations reporter Matt Nippert and data journalist Keith Ng dive into a decade of share price performance data to power-rank the men and women behind the corporate thrones.
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