Editor’s Picks

Petone voters are being well fed today with sausages in bread, scones and cream

WATCH: Despite the increased number of early voters, convenience and tradition were among the reasons why Rongotai voters waited for Election Day to hit the polls. Voting booths are open until 7pm today. BRONTE WILSON reports.

Polling booths are open until 7pm for New Zealanders to cast their ballot

The Whitireia Team is covering the election live around Wellington. Click above for a rolling blog of updates as election night progresses.

As Te Reo in schools added to the political debate in the elections, AIMEE EASTWOOD listens to her experience.

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern arrived at Victoria University to a rousing welcome by students. Increasing rain didn’t deter the selfie-takers. BRONTE WILSON reports.

Advocacy group for youth in the criminal justice system produces a scorecard

Wellington City Council to consult on cycle lane in iconic bay

Jacinda Ardern was not the only one brought to tears by the sight of 606 pairs of shoes

Will Saturday’s election will be the cause of our destruction? ELIJAH HILL reports.

LISTEN: Body image issues have been raised about an advert published in The University of Canterbury’s student magazine Canta which depicts two legs in a bathtub with a tick box for two options: to shave legs or wear jeans. SAPEER MAYRON reports.

Riders Against Teenage Suicide (R.A.T.S.) on their motorbikes played a part in bringing the message to Parliament.

SARAH McMULLAN talks to riders about protecting their tamariki.

The lights are on at Wellington’s new creative institute. BRONTE WILSON reports on the celebration for the building which will host Whitireia and Weltec students from 2018.

Te Auaha New Zealand Institute of Creativity building Dixon St being prepared to open in 2018

WATCH: Yesterday Stacey Morrison helped launch Māori Language Week in Wellington, with thousands marching to support Te Reo. BRONTE WILSON captured the action.

While they will often clash on policy, Labour and National share common ground on the importance of polls.

THOMAS AIREY talks to Wellington electorate opponents Grant Robertson and Nicola Willis.

Musical Theatre students at Whitireia Polytechnic Performing Arts are gearing up for opening night.

Willis says vote for her because Robertson will be too busy as Finance Minister – oops

WATCH: About 5000 people march to start Maori Language week. ELIJAH Hill got among the crowd.

The Parties Youth Wing debate at Victoria University had representatives from all the parties on campus, but one group was notably absence – women. LAURA WILTSHIRE reports on a meeting where even the Trump comedian bit off more than he could chew.

Newswire poses the question “How important is personality in your preffered Prime Minister?”

Young voters could change the election outcome. LAURA WILTSHIRE asks the question, will they?

Labour leads National for the first time in 12 years of polls, but Twyford cautious

Social Issues on the agenda as crowd of 40 brave wet night for politics

Residents from Brooklyn and beyond will next week get a chance to meet candidates standing for election in the electorates straddling the suburb and its surroundings. Reporter SAPEER MAYRON speaks to the organiser and locals to learn what they want this election.

TOP is doing things differently in the political landscape. ELIJAH HILL tries to read the topography at a party event.

Logan Tauiliili has unfinished business are second placing in the 2017 Hardham Cup

LISTEN: A principal is struggling to see merit in National’s latest education policy announcement.

Past students coming from as far away as England for the community milestone

Win movie tickets, dinner for two and a book of poems with your best guess

Water pistols spray candidates, and rain wet spectators for the iconic local election debate.

Year 10s at Wellington High School are looking closely at this year’s General Election

Loose forward has fingers crossed for this week’s scan of freak injury

At Tuesday Coding Club kids learn about the languages and logic driving their devices

Fergusson Intermediate students from Trentham were among thousands of Wellington regional children at city venues for SportsFest. ELIJAH HILL reports.

Play a must-see for young New Zealanders for whom life continues to confuse

Creative Kiwis beating Aussies at game development as sector has grown 354% in five years.

Chris Cain says musics students are pretty much the same the world over

New party gets electioneering opportunity at Victoria University

Wellington Access Radio Station Manager Kristen Paterson talks about the switch to FM frequency and what’s next for the station.

Māori language is struggling to survive colonisation. JADE WINTON-LOWE talks to three Te Reo speakers.

Ragne Maxwell is hoping to revamp the teaching style at Porirua College to get students more engaged in learning. A few months into the job, she sits down with KATENI SAU and talks about her dreams and the actions she intends to take.

KATENI SAU explores the challenges of being a Pacific journalist

Dogs are trained to assist people living with epilepsy thanks to a small New Zealand trust. SHAR DAVIS meets the e-dog lovers.

A Spanish student teacher is running knitting classes at Te Aro school as part of her PhD. Aimee Eastwood reports.

Bellevue has accelerated the writing ability of male and Maori students.

A Spanish student teacher is running knitting classes at Te Aro school as part of her PhD. Aimee Eastwood reports.

The absence of voices from the trans community in the health system was discussed over tea, coffee and cake at Saint Andrews Church as part of Trans Day of Visibility. AIMEE EASTWOOD talks to some of those who spoke.

Parents in April get their chances to talk about renovating five teaching spaces

Collaboration of professional opera singers, orchestra and circus acrobats

Circus, burlesque, belly and drag performers pulled in an audience at Cuba Dupa on Sunday. ALBION HAINES captured the action in pictures.

Team members talk about building on top 4 placing. ANIL GANASON reports.

Chocolate farm run by little birds called the OooEee give people at CubaDupa a treat

Wellington band HEX who played CubaDupa, are making an album. AIMEE EASTWOOD talks with bass player Kiki Van Newtown.

Te Auaha creative hub’s new director Victoria Spackman ONZM got a taste of her new job on the weekend at CubaDupa . She speaks to SHAR DAVIS.

Professional performers and Whitireia students take opera to the streets this weekend for CupaDupa 2017

Crowds of kids and parents converged on their very own part of Cuba Dupa Festival 2017

Ruaumoko mural by artist Taupuruariki Brightwell transforms Bond Street.

The circus is coming to Eva Beva on Sunday with a variety of artists, including a college student.

The noise has already begun about CubaDupa this weekend. La Cymbalobylette by French group Dynamogene showcased their mobile and musical street theatre show on Thursday.

Drag queen LaQuisha St Redfern read stories to Wellington’s children at part of Pride 2017.

Rape culture has been in the news following social media posts and filming of female teachers by college students.

NEWSWIRE TEAM took to the streets of Wellington to ask people if they thought the country had a rape culture.

Newswire team members AIMEE EASTWOOD and SAPEER MAYRON attended the protest against rape culture at Parliament and spoke to some of the participants.

Comedians and other artists challenge 250th anniversary of Cook’s landing in 2019

Porirua’s new mural by artists Chloe Reweti and Ruth Robertson-Taylor stole the show during the official opening at the night market in Porirua’s CBD. KATENI SAU reports.

The words “Check Yourself” will be in the face of young people from this week, on everything from bus backs to bar toilet doors and social media. ANGELA REID reports on a campaign partnership between council, police and tertiary institutions.

Grace Saywell is on a mission to win back the Poneke Plate for Wellington this weekend’s at the Hataitai Velodrome. ANGELA REID reports on the college student’s dreams.

Prime Minister Bill English was at the annual Bledisloe Garden Reception

The latest Salvation Army State of the Nation report raises questions that need answering ahead of the election due to entrenched child abuse and poverty, alarming housing conditions and an exploding prison population. SHAR DAVIS reports.

The Salvation Army recognise government financial management, but the ledger is not balanced.

The Christchurch Women’s March came together in seven days thanks to social media’s reach

The $750,000 kea habitat is final stage of Meet the Locals He Tuku Aroha interactive area

Wellington City Council has funded a workshop where people can learn how to fix their own bikes. SHAR DAVIS reports.

The Kitten Inn is experiencing a surge in kitten numbers this season. AMY McEWEN finds out out what the public can do to help.

Luke Fiso is rising to the top of crossfit success in New Zealand with an eye on the world. SHAR DAVIS reports

Cafe L’affare has a barista who can guess your coffee order. IRELAND HENDRY-TENNENT reports