Five Big Things: Wednesday, November 22

Good evening, it’s been a day of the government hanging in the balance, more allegations at an embattled school, and a mum's travel nightmare.

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1 Staff emails reveal recent student-on-student abuse at Wesley College

After difficult years under scrutiny, the management of Auckland's Wesley College hoped to leave behind the school's issues with violence.

But recent inter-staff emails, alleging both violent beatings and sexual abuse, have revealed that's not the case. 1News' Indira Stewart investigates. The Ministry of Education said schools, through their boards, are responsible for making sure every student is safe.

2 Who'll be the deputy prime minister?

Any day now — that's the hope as expectations grow that National could soon come to a deal to form a coalition government.

Potential finance minister Nicola Willis says she's out of the running to become deputy prime minister, before making cryptic remarks about leaving the role to David Seymour and Winston Peters. It remains a big issue in the talks, according to Christopher Luxon.

1News Political Editor Jessica Mutch McKay considers the two options, while a law professor said the idea of sharing the job between Seymour and Peters would be awkward.

Meanwhile, Political Reporter Felix Desmarais explains what will happen after a deal is struck to form a coalition.