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New Zealand has once again been named the best country in the world for work-life balance, topping Remote’s Global Work-Life Balance Index for the third year in a row. The index evaluates 60 countries by GDP across a range of quality-of-life indicators, including paid leave, public safety, happiness, inclusivity, and average working hours. New Zealand scored 86.87 out of 100, a six-point increase from the previous year. It performed strongly…

Incredibly simple to make, this fresh and  green tart is destined to be a crowd-pleaser. Plus, made with sweet baby frozen peas, it brings back all the freshness and warmth of summer!  Ingredients - 1 x 320g packet ready-rolled puff pastry - 150-200g frozen baby peas (minted if you like them) - 250g ricotta - 1 egg - Zest and juice of ½ lemon - 4 tbsp Genovese basil pesto Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan 2. Unroll 1 x 320g packet…

Matua Kahurangi Jun 08, 2025 It’s a cold day in hell when The New Yorker drops the performative liberal fangirling long enough to utter a hard truth. Their latest scathing review of Jacinda Ardern’s ghostwritten hugfest A Different Kind of Power doesn’t just pull punches, it finally lobs one square at the face of the myth. And thank God. It’s about time someone outside of New Zealand said what millions inside the country have been screaming…

Speaking on the Pod Save the World podcast, former prime minister Jacinda Ardern floated a conspiracy theory of her own. Ardern claimed New Zealand was one of the world’s leading consumers of Russian disinformation in early 2022, citing the near-simultaneous convoy protests in Canada and New Zealand as potential evidence of coordinated foreign influence. “Six days after the convoy in Canada… we had the same in New Zealand,” she said. Her…

New Atlas Logo Menu Show In a major milestone for modular nuclear power on the way to the mainstream, the US Department of the Air Force has issued a Notice of Intent to Award (NOITA) to Oklo that may lead to the construction and operation of a military reactor in Fairbanks, Alaska. Small nuclear reactors yielding less than 50 MW that can be mass produced in factories and shipped to where needed have very much been in the news in recent…

Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says the Government will not sign any Treaty settlement that includes clauses disputing the Crown’s sovereignty. His remarks came during a Māori Affairs select committee hearing, where he addressed negotiations with East Coast iwi Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and ongoing efforts to settle with Ngāpuhi, the country’s largest iwi. A draft deed negotiated under the Labour Government included an unprecedented…

A single dose of psilocybin coupled with “talk therapy” can significantly reduce depression in people with cancer for up to two years, according to a new study. While the study has limitations, its findings demonstrate the potential of psychedelic therapy in the context of cancer treatment. Depression and a cancer diagnosis often go hand-in-hand, which can make an already difficult situation worse. Traditional antidepressants need to be taken…

Even though house prices may eventually return to their nominal 2021 levels by mid-2029, inflation will have eroded the real value of those dollars. Forecasts suggest that by the mid-2030s, homes will still be worth about 20% less in real (inflation-adjusted) terms than they were during the COVID boom. Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan says, “House price inflation is expected to average 3.1 percent a year over the next five years.”…

These cookies are incredible easy to make and bursting with apple. They have a lovely cake-like texture with slightly crisp edges - ideal for dunking into a cup of tea. This recipe is quick and fun, and great to get children involved in cooking. Ingredients: - 125g plain flour - 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon - ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda - ¼ tsp salt - 175g porridge oats - 100g unsalted butter, softened - 150g caster sugar - 1 egg - 4-8 tbsp milk -…

RNZ claimed Hamilton’s 2025 heatwave “shattered” records, but 1930s data showed higher temperatures. RNZ quietly changed the headline and story without informing other media outlets like TVNZ or The NZ Herald, who had republished it. The Media Council upheld a complaint, citing exaggeration and lack of disclosure. Historical data showed 1930s temperatures were higher, but RNZ dismissed them based on a claim contradicted by NIWA’s own…

Dubai is already full of amazing skyscrapers, however a new project by Deyaar Development looks sure to make a big impression on its famous skyline. Soaring to an ambitious height of 445 m (1,459 ft), the tower will contain luxurious residences and even a palace fit for an Arabian prince. The skyscraper, named Downtown Residences, will be located in the city's burgeoning Business Bay development. It will be anchored by a chunky base, with twin…

There are quite a few steps to this dish, and lamb biryani may seem like a journey of a recipe, but it’s one you’ll be glad to have embarked on once you taste the end result – it’s just so unbelievably comforting. A rich and tender curry, fluffy grains of rice, crispy onions and fresh herbs combine to make the ultimate rice dish. Ingredients 2½ cups basmati rice, soaked in water 4 dried bay leaves 8 cardamom pods 6 cloves 1 cinnamon…

The Aucklander, a well-connected former model, had left Spirits Bay in the Far North on 3 December to walk the length of the country to promote New Zealand-made goods during the Depression. She had government patronage and support from the Manufacturers’ Federation. Having trained for six months, she was well prepared. Her walking boots also proved up to the challenge, with periodic resoling. James’ progress was fairly leisurely and she took a…

Hastings District Council has pulled a series of social media videos after a legal warning accused it of using public resources to promote one side of a political issue. The videos, featuring Deputy Mayor Tania Kerr and Māori ward councillor Ana Apatu, praised the benefits of Māori wards ahead of an upcoming referendum. Hobson’s Pledge, a group opposed to race-based representation, alleged the council had crossed a legal line by using its…

It’s one of ancient history’s most swashbuckling tales. Decades before ruling Ancient Rome, a young Julius Caesar is captured by pirates as he sails the Aegean Sea. Even in captivity, the prisoner remains in charge. The future dictator barks orders at his captors, insists they more than double the ransom placed on his life and vows to kill every last one of them. After his release, Caesar fulfills his pledge and brutally crucifies the pirates.…

A new report from the Maxim Institute argues that New Zealand’s End of Life Choice Act is giving patients an illusion of autonomy rather than true choice. The report, Interrogating Choice, warns that euthanasia is easier to access than good end-of-life care, making it less a choice than a consequence of systemic neglect. “Euthanasia is fully funded. Palliative care is not,” writes researcher Maryanne Spurdle. In many parts of New Zealand,…

Baby-farmer Daniel Cooper hanged 16 June 1923 A generation after the hanging of the infamous Minnie Dean (see 12 August), the murder trial of Daniel and Martha Cooper revealed that ‘baby farming’ and illegal abortion were still regarded as solutions to the problem of unwanted children in New Zealand. After watching the Coopers for some time, police arrested Daniel in December 1922 for performing an abortion. The discovery of a baby’s body…

New Zealand’s primary exports are forecast to hit a record $60 billion by 30 June 2025. This represents a 12 percent jump from last year’s $53.3 billion. MPI Director-General Ray Smith called the result a “blockbuster year.” Dairy alone is projected to deliver $27 billion in exports, up 16 percent from $23.3 billion, while horticulture is expected to rise 19 percent to $8.4 billion, nearly half of which comes from kiwifruit. Sheep, beef and…

Twelve years after accidentally throwing away a hard drive holding 8,000 Bitcoins, now worth nearly €649 million (approx. $1.5 billion NZD), Welsh IT worker James Howells is giving up the hunt. But his story isn’t over: it’s now the subject of a documentary series. In 2013, when Bitcoin was still niche, Howells discarded the drive during an office clean-out in Newport, Wales. As Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed, the device’s worth grew from…

Lemon and mustard pork escalopes accompanied by parsnips roasted with apples and greens. Escalopes are cuts of lean meat, beaten flat for swift cooking. Fry them in a very hot pan; they don't take long and you want as much colour on them as possible, it adds to the flavour. The swiftest way to shred any leafy greens is to stack the leaves on top of each other and roll them into a tight cigar shape. Then slice them widthways, as finely as you…