An Auckland charity that was concerned it would have to stop providing staples for families to make school lunches has received enough donations to keep the service going into next year.

The Girls' Schools Association (GSA) said it was a 'backwards step' for 'equality' because female-only education improves pupils' life chances and 'breaks glass ceilings'.

But the son of a haka expert, travelling down with students from Huntly, says "this is all part of our learning, this is their school".

Freedom of speech is important but police forces should be able to make operational decisions about who and what they investigate, Dame Diana Johnson said.

The hīkoi is a family affair, with tamariki everywhere; pepe sleeping in carts and buggies or tugging their cousins' hair.

Her mum says she has been 'nonstop crying' since

Ewan Murray and Grace Bingham say they have been unable to amend the error on five-week-old Lilah's records despite getting in touch with national registration bosses.