Cryptic Crossword (NZ Herald)
The NZ Herald's daily 15x15 cryptic crossword, with the past week still open to solve.
Every day: A new 15x15 cryptic crossword every day, the same for all readers, with the previous six days also playable. New puzzle: Daily (New Zealand time).
The New Zealand Herald publishes a 15x15 cryptic crossword online every day, pitched at a moderate level of difficulty. It is played in an embedded puzzle app that opens on today's grid and keeps the six previous days available. The page is part of NZ Herald Premium, so a subscription is needed.
About Cryptic Crossword (NZ Herald)
This is the cryptic companion to the NZ Herald's classic crossword in its Puzzles and Games section. Each clue hides its answer in wordplay, such as anagrams, hidden words, containers and double definitions, alongside a straight definition. The paper describes the clues as moderate in difficulty, which makes it a reasonable step up for solvers coming from definition crosswords.
The puzzle runs in an interactive player supplied by PuzzleXperts. It opens on a screen with today's date, a Today tile and one tile for each of the previous six days, so a missed cryptic can still be solved later in the week. Inside the grid there are hints, undo and a pencil mode, plus options to check answers.
Everyone who opens the page on a given day gets the same cryptic. The page is marked as Premium, which means it sits behind the NZ Herald's digital subscription.
It suits solvers who enjoy wordplay and want a daily cryptic of medium difficulty from a New Zealand paper.
How to play Cryptic Crossword (NZ Herald)
- Open the Cryptic crossword page on the NZ Herald and sign in with a Premium subscription.
- Choose Today, or one of the previous six days.
- Read each clue for its definition, usually at the start or end, and the wordplay that builds the answer.
- Type answers into the grid, using pencil mode for guesses.
- Use hints or checks if stuck, and fill the whole grid to finish.
Screenshots
Tips
- Look for anagram indicators such as broken, mixed or wild.
- Short clues are often double definitions or hidden words.
- Crossing letters help confirm a parse before you commit.
- Use the previous days for practice when the current one is too tough.
Questions
Is the cryptic the same for everyone?
Yes. It is a dated daily puzzle shown to all readers.
Is it free?
No. The page is an NZ Herald Premium article that requires a subscription.
How hard is it?
The NZ Herald describes the clues as moderate in difficulty.
Can I play earlier puzzles?
Yes. The player shows today plus the previous six days.
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