Mary Brennan is one of New Zealand's most high-profile madams. (Composite image: Anna Bittle)

Life

Brothel madam notes tough times in sex industry: 'We're a luxury spend'

In the latest in our Finances after Fifty series we talk to Mary Brennan, 64, a former dominatrix and now owner and madam of Wellington brothel Funhouse.

16 mins ago

Ardie Savea runs out for the All Blacks against France in Christchurch.

Rugby

All Blacks skipper Savea likely to sit out early part of South Africa tour

Dave Rennie's plan has hard-working Savea starting against Italy and Ireland before he has a rest and returns for Tests against world champions.

The Lotto winner didn't know how much he had won until he checked the news.

New Zealand

'You've got the whole lot!': Huntly man's surprise Lotto win

The winner of the $1 million Lotto draw didn't know he was the recipient of all four prizes until he read a news story, and checked his ticket.

Latest stories

Mark Dillon and Malcom Taylor's ploughing equipment was due to arrive in Croatia mid-July.

New Zealand

NZ ploughing team dealt blow after tractor lost in shipping delay

Mark Dillon and teammate Malcolm Taylor were due to travel to Croatia for the top competition in September — but now face uncertainty with their gear stuck at sea.

2:26

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

World

Australia welcomes NZ joining Pacific defence alliance

"We welcome the New Zealand government's interest in joining the Ocean of Peace Alliance with Australia and Fiji once it enters into force," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

Derryn Hinch started his media career in 1960 for The Taranaki Herald.

World

NZ-born Australian broadcaster Derryn Hinch dies at 82

A rebranded Donald J Trump International sign over a US highway on the way to the airport.

World

Florida airport renamed President Donald J Trump International

Rescue workers look for survivors under landslide debris in a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar.

World

At least 13 refugees dead after landslides in Bangladesh

Latest and Live videos

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Some stranded in Kaikōura as roads close across network
Wed, Jul 8
4:22
Evacuations as month-load of rain drenches Kaikōura
Tue, Jul 7
4:29
Swift condemnation after China test-launches ballistic missile into Pacific
Tue, Jul 7
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Senior officer under investigation named, more than 50 cases reopened
Tue, Jul 7
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Arthur Easton murder: Suspect in man’s 1985 murder was Māori, court told
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Club rugby games in Wellington cancelled after referees report ongoing abuse
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Watch: Rivers rage across Kaikōura as flooding closes key roads
Tue, Jul 7
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Heavy rain hits Hurunui District
Tue, Jul 7
0:30
'Water was up to the back door' - Oamaru resident
Mon, Jul 6
1:35
News in 90 Seconds July 6
Mon, Jul 6
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Latest and Live videos
playing
Watch: Kiwis embrace Matariki with sunrise celebrations
11:39am
1:30
News in 90 Seconds July 9
Thursday 11:40am
0:40
Some stranded in Kaikōura as roads close across network
Wed, Jul 8
4:22
Evacuations as month-load of rain drenches Kaikōura
Tue, Jul 7
4:29
Swift condemnation after China test-launches ballistic missile into Pacific
Tue, Jul 7
2:27
Senior officer under investigation named, more than 50 cases reopened
Tue, Jul 7
1:40
Arthur Easton murder: Suspect in man’s 1985 murder was Māori, court told
Tue, Jul 7
2:29
Club rugby games in Wellington cancelled after referees report ongoing abuse
Tue, Jul 7
0:58
Watch: Rivers rage across Kaikōura as flooding closes key roads
Tue, Jul 7
2:21
Heavy rain hits Hurunui District
Tue, Jul 7
0:30
'Water was up to the back door' - Oamaru resident
Mon, Jul 6
1:35
News in 90 Seconds July 6
Mon, Jul 6

New Zealand

The affected area viewed on a map.

Biotoxin warning issued for Marlborough Sounds shellfish

The public were urged not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from the Tennyson Inlet and Fitzroy Bay areas due to the presence of toxins.

Sport

Israel Adesanya in Perth in August 2024

Israel Adesanya leaves longtime gym City Kickboxing

The former two-time UFC middleweight champion says it's the "right thing" for this stage of his career, ending a long and successful partnership.

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In total, police found 1532 plants during the operation: 862 mature plants and 670 juvenile seedling plants.
 
 

The 'red flags' landlords should look for when vetting tenants

Landlords and property managers have been urged to be more vigilant in checking their rental properties, after recent busts at growhouses linked to organised crime.

Kole Tohovaka and his wife Sophia Teirney-Tohovaka.
 
 

Young dad's devastating stroke reflects disturbing surge in Pacific, Māori rates

Health experts have warned us for years: The incidence of stroke is on the rise, particularly among young Māori and Pasifika.

As the Government hails a sharp drop in emergency housing, charities warn the people locked out are ending up on the street.
 
 

'Perverse incentive': MSD staff metrics include emergency housing grants

Some staff receive regular grading on eleven measures, including the number of people in their region who receive emergency housing grants.

Billy Samountry and his partner Jesse with their newborn twin girls, Lyra Mae and Juniper Mira.
 
 

Auckland dad diagnosed with brain tumour weeks before twins' birth

For Billy Samountry and his partner Jesse, the diagnosis followed a year already marred by heartbreak.

Te Tino Rangatiratanga flag
 
 

Govt spends millions on unprecedented Waitangi Tribunal inquiries

Critics say the real cost is the strain on the Māori-Crown relationship.

Poll: Big two parties at 30-year low, Opportunity nears 5% threshold
 
 

Poll: Big two parties at 30-year low, Opportunity nears 5% threshold

Both Labour and National have taken falls in the latest 1News Verian poll.

Ario Nepia scrolls through content on her phone.
 
 

Mum's horror at whānau photos found among deepfake porn images

A mum of three learned photos of her and her family had been used without consent alongside AI-generated explicit content.

The young people in the experiment came away with more concerns, not less.
 
 

'After talking to AI, I feel worse' - students' fears for the future

A group of university students took part in an experiment with ChatGPT.

Steve Braunias has written a book about the trial, in which Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of murdering his wife Pauline Hanna.
 
 

Did Polkinghorne get away with murder? Author on what the public gets wrong

Steve Braunias, who covered the eight-week murder trial and went on to write a book, spoke to the Between Two Beers podcast.

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Nicole Gaviria (Composite image: Vinay Ranchhod)

I lost 50kg after bariatric surgery; here's what I'd tell those considering Wegovy

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People are rarely exposed to chemicals one at a time.

You can't avoid chemicals completely, but you can reduce your exposure

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World

Rescue workers look for survivors under landslide debris in a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar.

At least 13 refugees dead after landslides in Bangladesh

Authorities in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh used loudspeakers and a network of volunteers and community leaders to relocate people from risky areas to safety after landslides killed at least 13 refugees in the past few days.

Rochester-born Dean Foord told officers to "be nice" to him as he was pulled from the fridge.

Cold case: Criminal caught hiding from UK police in fridge

Kent local Dean Foord was arrested in December 2025 in an attempt to evade policemen, which saw him wedge himself into his fridge and refuse to come out.

0:37

A woman sheltering at a sports centre uses a goal net to dry her laundry.

Humanitarian crisis builds in quake-hit Venezuelan communities

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky looks out from his car window as he arrives for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.

Ukrainian drones batter Russian oil facilities, set more tankers ablaze

The arena for the UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, June 14

Eight men indicted in planned attack at White House UFC fight

Business

Empty wallet.

Here's how many New Zealanders are going bankrupt

"There is likely a taboo around insolvency out there which is a hangover from a couple of centuries where debtors faced awful treatment," one economist said.

Politics

Wayne Brown watches on as Chris Bishop speaks to the media.

Mayor Brown's texts to minister reveal AT contempt, reform lobbying

While the Auckland mayor's frosty relationship with AT was not new, the texts lay bare just how blunt he was in private messaging.

3:21

Te Ao Māori

Crowds at Takaparawhau, Bastion Point celebrating the rise of Matariki.

Kiwis gather to welcome Matariki with dawn ceremonies and reflection

One attendee at this year's national Hautapu dawn ceremony at Takaparawhau, Bastion Point held back tears as she told 1News she was "very moved" by the event.

4:39

Entertainment

Noah Wyle in a scene from The Pitt. (Source: HBO via AP)

The Pitt leads Emmys race with 25 nominations

Hacks got a graduation party with a record-setting 24 to lead all comedies in its final season.

Justin Bieber performs during the 68th annual Grammy Awards

Justin Bieber among stars revealed for World Cup final halftime show

The 11-minute halftime performance, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will take place during the final outside New York on July 20.

Matariki Herenga Waka hosted by Stacey Morrison and Mātai Smith will be live from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on Friday at 6am.

Celebrating Matariki: What to watch on TVNZ

2:27

A "Just Married" sign is displayed on Madison Square Garden during a wedding between singer Taylor Swift and National Football League player Travis Kelce on Friday, July 3, 2026, in New York.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married in elaborate ceremony

The PlayStation logo appears at the Paris Games Week in Paris in 2017.

Eject disc: PlayStation to phase out games on physical format

Environment

Sunset over water (file image).

El Niño kicks in - world’s oceans set heat record

More than 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouses goes into the ocean. But what happens in the oceans doesn’t stay there.