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What you need to know
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
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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
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Resident visa categories reopen: What you need to know
13 Oct 2022The government has reintroduced two visas that have been on hold for years. Here's what you need to know.
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Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day: What you need to know
26 Sep 2022Today is New Zealand's official Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day public holiday, with a wide range of events planned and closures around the motu to honour Her Majesty. Audio
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Mask mandates: How have other countries fared after dropping requirements?
12 Sep 2022With mask mandates dropping around the world as the pandemic appears to enter a new phase, what we can learn from countries that have already left masks behind? Here's what you need to know.
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Local body elections: Boosting the youth vote and a councillor's baptism of fire
5 Sep 2022Explainer - Local body elections are round the corner but should we give 16-year-olds voting rights to lift low participation rates?
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Local body elections are looming - how to vote and why they matter
3 Sep 2022Explainer - Local body elections are a big yawn to many but having a say in who runs our cities and towns is important. RNZ has some pointers that might spur you on to vote.
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Gaurav Sharma's fallout with Labour
25 Aug 2022The build-up to the expulsion of former Labour Party MP Gaurav Sharma started in early August. Here's how it unfolded.
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Cost of living payment: What you need to know
3 Aug 2022The government's cost of living payment has seen eligible New Zealanders receive a welcome bump to their finances this week, but who is eligible and how can people make sure they get their cash? RNZ…
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Emissions Trading Scheme: What you need to know
20 Jul 2022The Emissions Trading Scheme is one of the most important drivers of the changes needed to have any hope of avoiding the catastrophic impacts of climate change.
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Explainer: Can we still avoid Covid-19 and is there any point trying?
9 Jun 2022With new Covid-19 case numbers down, many may be asking if there's any point keeping up precautions to avoid the virus, particularly those who haven't caught it yet. Here's what you need to know.
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Three waters Part II: What you need to know
28 May 2022Explainer - The government is forging ahead with revised water system reform despite criticisms. So what's changed? RNZ is here to clear it all up.
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Australia-New Zealand refugee resettlement deal: What you need to know
7 Apr 2022Explainer - What is the Australia New Zealand refugee resettlement deal and why has it been agreed after nearly a decade? RNZ is here to clear it all up.
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