Voting before election day has increased in popularity, and in 2020, 68% of votes were cast in advance, report says.

The strikes come less than two months out from what is expected to be a close-run government election on Oct 14.

Lauren Anne Dickason killed her two-year-old twins and their six-year-old sister in September 2021 at their home in Timaru, about a month after the family had migrated from South Africa.

New Zealand has seen a rise in online break-ins recently prompting the country's central bank in May to propose collecting financial data on cyber incidents to better understand cyber risks in the financial sector.

Vapes will require child safety mechanisms, with enticing names, such as 'cotton candy', banned, while plain packaging had been considered.

The hostel provided accommodation for construction workers, hospital staff and those serving sentences in the community for minor crimes, among other people.

The changes, effective from July, mean New Zealand citizens living in Australia for four years or more can apply for citizenship without having to become permanent residents first.

Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens was abducted by the West Papua Liberation Army in the Papuan highlands area of Nduga two months ago after a routine flight to the area.

New Zealand joins Canada, Britain and the US in banning the popular app from government-issued devices amid cyber security concerns that data could be viewed by officials in Beijing.

Authorities are warning that the country needs to prepare for the death toll to rise.

Isolated residents have been told not to leave their homes unless 'absolutely essential' and to restrict water use.

There were no immediate reports of damage, and no tsunami warning has been issued.