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X marks the spot: Has Elon Musk's Grok gone too far?
Explainer - The billionaire has been under fire over AI deepfakes - with Christopher Luxon's office calling them "concerning." What's going on?
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Who are ICE agents and what exactly can they do?
12 Jan 2026Explainer - America has been in an uproar the past week over the actions of ICE agents after the shooting of a Minneapolis woman. But who exactly are they?
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Who are the hackers behind Manage My Health's cyber attack?
7 Jan 2026Explainer - Kazu have a track record of targeting other institutions - from the Nepali police to a US medical records company.
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Ten things RNZ explained in 2025
30 Dec 2025What were some of the biggest topics RNZ's journalists explained this year? Here's a look back.
What you need to know headlines with summaries.
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How changes to the foreign buyers ban will work
Explainer - New Zealand's ban on overseas buyers of real estate has been softened - but there's one rather large catch. Audio
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Why you might suddenly stop drinking milk
15 Dec 2025Explainer - Lactose intolerance affects most of us as we get older. Why does this happen?
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The 3G shutdown has begun - will your phone work?
15 Dec 2025Explainer - Over the weekend, 3G networks started to shut down. What does this mean for you and your phone? Audio
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How can I cool down my house in summer?
12 Dec 2025Explainer - If you're starting to swelter as temperatures around the country rise, you might be wondering how best to cool your house.
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Why does New Zealand take such a long summer holiday break?
9 Dec 2025Are our summer breaks too long? And how did they become a Kiwi institution?
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'24-7 every day of the year' - Who runs Auckland's traffic?
3 Dec 2025Explainer - It looks like Mission Control, but it's actually where traffic for Auckland and much of the North Island is managed. Video, Audio
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What is open banking, and how does it work?
3 Dec 2025Explainer - It's often touted as a way New Zealanders could get a better deal on their banking - but how?
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'Incredibly Shakespearean': How political leaders get rolled
2 Dec 2025Explainer - What happens if National or Labour MPs decide to turn on their party's leaders?
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Regional councils demise: The plans, timeline and thorny issues
27 Nov 2025Explainer - The government is intent on reform, however, many questions on the "reset" remain unanswered. Audio
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Why has Black Friday become such a big deal?
Explainer - You can't turn around without seeing a Black Friday advert this week. But where did it come from? Audio
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Why you may pay more for parking on your summer holiday
22 Nov 2025Explainer - Whether you're a local or a tourist, you'll need to pay for parking at three top visitor destinations starting next month.
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How dangerous is asbestos in coloured sand?
19 Nov 2025Explainer - Why is asbestos such a worry, and what's the risk after coloured play sand has been revealed to be contaminated? Audio
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What gun reform proposals will change - and what they won't
17 Nov 2025Explainer - How will firearms proposals change access to guns in New Zealand? Here's what you need to know. Audio
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How and why Kelston could be turned into a charter school
5 Nov 2025Explainer - Can a school be 'taken over' by a charter school conversion? Here's what you need to know. Audio
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How porn deepfakes may soon become illegal
4 Nov 2025Explainer - They have been described as a sadistic and degrading weapon - yet in New Zealand, nude deepfakes are not explicitly a crime. Audio
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Measles in New Zealand: What you need to know about the deadly virus
22 Oct 2025Explainer: Measles cases may be spreading in the community. Here’s what you need to know about the deadly disease.
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Is wild spring weather the new normal?
31 Oct 2025Explainer - Weather forecasters say the last couple weeks haven't been normal, "even by spring's standards". But why? Audio
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Will New Zealand ever ban fireworks - and should we?
28 Oct 2025Explainer - Every November, talk of banning fireworks sparks up. But despite petitions presented to Parliament, will it happen? Audio
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How Fonterra's $4b deal will change New Zealand
22 Oct 2025Explainer - Why the dairy giant is selling off its iconic brands - and why Winston Peters is angry about it.
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What you need to know about this week's mega strike
20 Oct 2025Explainer - There's a huge strike coming. Who's taking part, why are they protesting and what's so 'mega' about it? Audio
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What to know if you're going to the US in a government shutdown
15 Oct 2025Explainer - What the on-going battle in Washington could mean for New Zealanders. Audio
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Everything you need to know about changes to Jobseeker
Explainer - Thousands of young people will no longer be eligible for Jobseeker payments. Here's what we know. Audio
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How fake doctors are trying to sell you weight loss drugs
8 Oct 2025Explainer - The popularity of Wegovy and Ozempic has seen a flood of ads pop up. Who can you trust?
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What are the 10 warning signs of dementia?
6 Oct 2025Explainer - With cases on the rise in New Zealand, what should families be looking for?
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