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Meta and Google found liable for designing harmful platforms

United State correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about tech giants dealing with a major legal blow in a landmark social media addiction trial. A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable for designing their social media platforms in a way that can be intentionally addictive and harmful to young people. Each company has been ordered to pay millions in damages and the finding could affect thousands of other cases.

States of Emergency declared in Whangarei and the Far North

States of Emergency have been declared in Whangarei and the Far North with storm conditions expected get worse overnight. Northland east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangarei is under a red weather warning until 4am tomorrow. 25 schools closed throughout the region, affecting nearly 4000 students. State Highway 1 is also closed at four different locations around Northland. Civil Defence Co-ordinator in Whangaruru, Noeline Whitehead spoke to Lisa Owen.

RNZ Pacific News at 4pm for 26 March 2026

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

The Magic Faraway Tree's Jessica Gunning

Even in an enchanted tree where fairies and men with faces like the moon live, someone has to do the laundry. And in a film adaptation of the classic Enid Blyton book, The Magic Faraway Tree, that job falls to actress Jessica Gunning. She is Dame Washalot who, does a lot of laundry, carelessly tossing buckets of sudsy water down the tree, sometimes drenching children who discover the magic world in the branches. Jessica Gunning captured acting magic in 2024, staring in the hit series Baby Reindeer and wining just about every award going. She joins a stellar cast including Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. The Magic Faraway Tree is in theaters now.

History with Dr Grant Morris:Past fuel crises

Dr Grant Morris chats to Jesse about carless days, CNG and lower speed limits - driving in NZ in 1979 - truths vs myths. The 2026 Iran War has resulted in surging fuel prices. Many Kiwis of a certain age remember the carless days of 1979 but this is only one example of the many measures used at the time.