New Zealand

France has sharply rejected accusations that it undermined decolonisation in New Caledonia and says it's still deciding when a high-level Pacific delegation will be permitted to visit the territory.

The report called for the government to set up a Care Safe Agency responsible for overseeing the industry, as well as a review of compensation offered to survivors.

A public inquiry found around 200,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults were abused in state and religious care over the last 70 years.

The contestant has been given a written warning for killing and eating the protected species.

New Zealand has officially complained to the IOC's integrity unit after spotting a drone flying over its women's soccer team's training session ahead of the Olympics.

An all-men's a cappella group from Adelaide has won big at the world's largest choir competition, taking home two gold medals and two world championship trophies.

An injury to first-choice kicker Adam Pompey costs the Warriors dearly as Chanel Harris-Tavita misses a shot to equalise from right next to the posts in the dying minutes in Canberra.

Alex Hodgman is set to become the fourth player to represent both New Zealand and Australia in rugby union when he takes the field against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday.

Norm Hewitt died in Wellington on Monday night aged 55 of motor neurone disease.

The rare spade-toothed whale washes ashore in Otago, marking just the sixth time a specimen of the mammal is found and the first one fully intact.

A dead spade-toothed whale being moved by an excavator after washing ashore on a New Zealand beach.

With global butter prices at record highs, shoppers are hurting and Aussie dairy farmers look unlikely to cash in.

Even before he pulled on the jersey, Blues debutant Mitch Barnett made a serious sacrifice for his New South Wales teammates when he missed the birth of his second son in order to train alongside the team in the lead-up to Origin I.

Pacific Island workers coming home from Australia say it's a long and complicated process to get their superannuation — and the barriers appear to be stopping many from claiming their money.

68-year-old Patricia McKay was struck and killed by a white sedan during a botched robbery attempt at Fashion Island mall, Newport Beach.

Diesel accounts for about 85 per cent of the energy used on Australian farms, but that mix is expected to change as alternative fuels and renewable technology become more affordable.

Mary Goulding was a rising star of New Zealand basketball. But after a near-fatal car accident, she sustained a brain injury and was put in a coma for 12 days. This is the story of how she went from learning to swallow, talk and walk again, to elite Australian basketball.

Blessed with pristine lagoons and coral reefs, New Caledonia was hoping to attract more Australian tourists. After civil unrest struck, businesses are now thinking about survival.

Queensland winger Xavier Coates is out of State of Origin III after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Storm's gritty 16-6 defeat of the Raiders.

Changing wind patterns due to global warming are blowing shorebirds to new coastal locations, says Birds SA rare birds chair Colin Rogers.

Scientists used to think birds were split into two groups: those that learn or imitate sounds, and those that can't. But a tiny wren from Aotearoa New Zealand bridges the two.

Calls made by titipounamu or rifleman birds (Acanthisitti chloris) near Te Ika-a-Māui/North Island's Hawke Bay.

House-sitting platforms are connecting sitters and home owners for a fee. But who's responsible when things go wrong?

Rachel House is one of New Zealand's best-loved actors. Now she's bringing her comedic chops and Māori heritage to directing.

The Titans and Tigers score more than 100 points, Souths continue their resurgence, and Jahrome Hughes might be the best player in the NRL. Here's this week's NRL Round-Up.