/news/rss 九一星空无限 Get the latest news from 九一星空无限talk ZB. From breaking news to the debate and opinion, we bring NZ the news from around the world as it happens.   Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:59:09 Z en /news/sport/former-all-blacks-wing-grant-batty-dies-aged-74-in-queensland/ /news/sport/former-all-blacks-wing-grant-batty-dies-aged-74-in-queensland/ Former All Blacks, Wellington and Bay of Plenty winger Grant Batty has died, aged 74.  It’s understood Batty passed away on Friday in Queensland, where he had been living for several years.  Batty played 53 matches and 15 tests for the All Blacks during his career between 1972 - 1977, scoring four test tries.  He was often one of the smallest men on the field, standing at 1.65m tall and weighed 65kgs.  Batty made his debut for Wellington in 1970 and after just five senior matches, he was picked to pay in the All Blacks trial. Two years later, he made in test debut against Wales in Cardiff.  His last test try was arguably his most famous. When facing the British and Irish Lions in Wellington, he intercepted a pass thrown by Trefor Evans and despite a crippling knee injury, ran over 50m to score in a 16-12 win.  The try is one of three favourite tries he scored out of 45 dotted down for New Zealand. His second try, against the Barbarians in 1973, and his second try against NSW, 1970 in Sydney, make up the others.  Former All Black Ian Kirkpatrick told the Herald it was a huge shock when Batty’s wife called to share the devastating news. The pair were very close from their playing days together and had been in recent communication.  Ian Kirkpatrick (left) and fellow All Blacks stars of the 1970s, Sir Bryan Williams and Grant Batty are pictured with Kirkpatrick's niece, East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, at a fundraising luncheon held in Auckland. Photo Dana Kirkpatrick  In 2014, Herald rugby reporter Wynne Gray named Batty in his 100 Greatest All Blacks list who he described as a “feisty dynamo.”  “The small man who loved big challenges and was pronounced a sporting freak by All Black coach JJ Stewart, headed off into some unfulfilling business ventures,” Gray wrote.  “Batty had been a whizz-kid at school in the Wairarapa and that prompted the Rugby Almanack to pick him as one of their promising players after playing for Wellington in his first year out of school.  “Batty was posted further out in the Wellington backline where he was a target for regular roughhouse attention. He never shirked the contest and his career flourished when he was shifted to the wing for the NZ Juniors trip to Australia in 1972.  “He wanted to play halfback which may explain his choice of Sid Going, another small muscular man, as the most talented All Black he ever played with.  “That launched his test career and the memories of his extraordinary acceleration and braking power, the jaunty walk, the Zapata moustache and the tinder dry temper. Batty was entertainment plus, a bristling powder keg who loved to mix it and drew crowds into his world.”  After hanging up the boots, Batty won the NZ Superstars series three years in a row before moving to Queensland where he turned his skills to coaching.  Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.  Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:50:41 Z /news/national/orca-surround-swimmer-on-pontoon-at-wellington-s-oriental-bay/ /news/national/orca-surround-swimmer-on-pontoon-at-wellington-s-oriental-bay/ A casual late-night swim at Oriental Bay turned into a jaw-dropping encounter when Joel Crampton was flanked by two orca.  The encounter was caught on camera by a group watching from shore, who had been keeping an eye on the man as he relaxed on a pontoon in the middle of the bay.  In the footage, someone whistles to Crampton before jokingly calling out for him to jump into the water.  As the video draws to a close, a child asks what would happen if the figure on the pontoon did jump in, prompting a dry reply from another voice: “He’ll probably get eaten, Tom.”  An onlooker can be heard in the video pointing out an “oblivious man — just lying on his back”, moments before the presence of two orca becomes clear.  Since the start of the new year, Joel Crampton told Stuff he had fallen into a routine of heading down to the Wellington beach each evening.  “I swam out to the pontoon, like I’ve been doing most nights.”  Crampton told Stuff he had heard what turned out to be an orca surfacing for air.  He soon realised there were two of them, circling slowly around the pontoon.  “There was this big male with a big fin, and a female with a small fin.”  In a separate video, Crampton can then be seen swimming back towards shore.  The Department of Conservation said orcas are often seen in Wellington Harbour, particularly during spring and summer, as they hunt for stingrays.  Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:40:38 Z /news/national/hamilton-crash-victim-sandeep-singh-remembered-as-devoted-dad/ /news/national/hamilton-crash-victim-sandeep-singh-remembered-as-devoted-dad/ A father-of-two killed in a serious Hamilton crash was on his way to his new job when tragedy struck.  Sandeep Singh, 45, died in a car crash on Te Rapa Rd in the early hours of yesterday morning while on his way to work — a job he had been in for just one week.  Friend Himanshu Parmar said Singh was a “good man”.  “He was telling me so excitedly about the job,” Parmar said.  Singh was one of two people killed in the serious two-vehicle crash on the key arterial route into Hamilton, in the residential suburb of Beerescourt.  Emergency services were called to the scene around 12.30am Friday, where both victims were found dead.  A neighbour who lives across the road said he was jolted awake by a loud bang at about 12.25am.  “When I went outside, there was already a body on the road,” he said.  The man, who has lived in the area with his wife for 10 years, said it was the first serious crash of this nature he had ever seen on the street.  His wife said the crash scene was not cleared until about 3am, leaving residents shaken and sleepless.  Another immediate neighbour said he was woken by people already standing on the road.  “I was pretty sure there were casualties,” he said.  The collision involved two vehicles on Te Rapa Rd in Beerescourt. Photo / Tom Eley  Te Rapa Rd was closed between Forest Lake Rd and Vardon Rd for several hours while the Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene examination. Police later confirmed the road had reopened.  Hato Hone St John said it was alerted to the crash at 12.28am and responded with two ambulances, a rapid response unit and an operations manager. Fire and Emergency New Zealand sent two fire trucks, which remained on scene for about 40 minutes.  An investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing.  For Singh’s loved ones, the loss has been devastating — and the timing cruel.  Parmar said Singh had been living in New Zealand for two years with his wife, Manpreet Kaur, and their children.  While his wife and children are New Zealand citizens, Singh was in the country on a spousal visa and was the family’s main breadwinner.  “What’s making it a lot worse for all of us is his wife had actually gone back to India to see family,” Parmar said.  Urgent arrangements are now being made for her and the children to travel back to New Zealand.  Singh was originally from the village of Jassard in the Ropar (Rupnagar) district of Punjab.  “He carried with him the values of family, humility and hard work that defined his upbringing,” Parmar said.  A Givealittle page has been set up to help support Singh’s wife as she navigates both her grief and the sudden financial strain left behind by the tragedy.  “The funds raised will help provide immediate financial support, allowing the family the time and space to grieve without added pressure.”  Tom Eley is a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. He previously worked for the Weekend Sun and Sunlive.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:57:55 Z /news/national/waioeka-gorge-slips-more-than-40-airlifted-to-safety-as-state-highway-2-remains-closed/ /news/national/waioeka-gorge-slips-more-than-40-airlifted-to-safety-as-state-highway-2-remains-closed/ Helicopters swooped into the Waioeka Gorge overnight, airlifting more than 40 people to safety after slips and flooding cut off trapped motorists.  Police were alerted to the first slip about 9am yesterday after heavy rain hammered the area between Matawai and Ōpōtiki.  Conditions rapidly deteriorated, with further slips and flooding cutting off motorists.  By midnight, helicopters had evacuated everyone known to be trapped, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said.  Another eight people at two private properties are due to be flown out this morning.  “It’s been a significant effort to reach so many people who were trapped,” Cooney said.  “I want to acknowledge the efforts of local helicopter pilots, New Zealand Defence Force staff, local and regional councils, and Police Search and Rescue.  “It’s been a long operation, but we’re just thankful that everyone is safe – everyone we know about has been accounted for.”  Evacuated motorists were initially flown to a nearby campsite, before an NZDF NH90 helicopter ferried them on to evacuation centres at Matawai and Ōpōtiki.  SH2 WAIOWEKA GORGE, BAY OF PLENTY - SLIP - UPDATE 5:25PM, FRI 16 JANWaioweka Gorge will be closed over the weekend. Crews are onsite clearing debris. Use the detours provided or consider delaying your journey. An update on the closure will be given on Monday morning, 19 Jan. ^JS https://t.co/qV7wsFFd2J— NZ Transport Agency - Waikato & Bay of Plenty (@nztawbop) January 16, 2026 “The recovery of the vehicles will take some time given the significant damage and number of slips through the gorge, but the main thing is nobody was hurt,” Cooney said.  Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said everyone had now been safely evacuated, praising the overnight response.  “We know that everyone has been safely evacuated, and it was great coordination by the Bay of Plenty, police and NZTA – they worked last night to evacuate everyone by helicopter,” Stoltz said.  She said NZTA would reassess damage to the gorge on Monday morning after aerial inspections.  “There is extensive damage to the gorge, and we will coordinate with them on Monday to see how we move forward.”  SH2 closed all weekend  The Waioeka Gorge was closed to motorists yesterday and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says it will remain closed over the weekend.  State Highway 2, through the Waioeka Gorge, is closed due to a slip. Image / Google Maps  “Crews are on-site clearing debris,” NZTA said. “Use the detours provided or consider delaying your journey.”  An update on the closure is expected on Monday. Motorists are advised to check NZTA’s Journey Planner for the latest road conditions.  Electrical storm and widespread lightning  An intense electrical storm swept through the gorge ahead of the slips, as severe thunderstorms rolled across the North Island early Friday morning.  MetService said almost 18,000 lightning strikes were recorded between noon Thursday and 7am Friday across Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatū and surrounding waters, with Waikato and Taranaki recording the highest numbers.  MetService had warned that the thunderstorms could bring torrential rain and flash flooding.  The wild weather follows severe conditions on Thursday, when tornadoes ripped across parts of the North Island, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and fences.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:16:31 Z /news/national/lachie-jones-death-new-investigation-into-gore-tragedy-near-completion/ /news/national/lachie-jones-death-new-investigation-into-gore-tragedy-near-completion/ A fresh police investigation into the death of Gore toddler Lachie Jones is nearing completion, with senior detectives from outside the region appointed to lead and oversee the inquiry.  Police confirmed the new investigation began last year following a direction from Coroner Alexander Ho, who ordered a “full and fresh” reinvestigation after finding serious shortcomings in the original police response to Lachie’s death in 2019.  Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur, of Waikato District, is leading the inquiry as Senior Investigating Officer. Detective Superintendent Ross McKay, a territorial detective superintendent from the North Island, has oversight of the investigation as Senior Responsible Officer.  Coroner Alexander Ho delivered his findings in the Invercargill District Court in June last year. Photo / Southland Times  Police said McKay contacted the Coroner’s office on Thursday to provide an update on the investigation’s progress.  In a statement to the Herald, police said the investigation is “near completion”.  The reinvestigation follows the coroner’s findings delivered in Invercargill on June 12 last year, which criticised the initial police and medical investigations and concluded the cause of Lachie’s death could not be determined on the balance of probabilities.  While Coroner Ho said he was not satisfied that accidental drowning was the most likely explanation, he also rejected specific theories advanced during the inquest that Lachie had been murdered and his body concealed.  He found it was a “main fact” that Lachie’s mother, Michelle Officer, did not cause him direct harm in a manner materially contributory to death.  He also found there was no evidence that Lachie’s eldest half-brother was involved in the circumstances of the child’s disappearance.  Coroner Ho concluded that while the possibility of third-party involvement could not be entirely excluded, there was no evidence to support such a theory, and emphasised that his direction for reinvestigation should not be taken as implicating any individual as complicit in or responsible for Lachie’s death.  Lachie died in January 2019 after going missing from his Gore home and was later found in nearby oxidation ponds.  The inquest into the death of Lachie Jones ended on June 12 last year, with Coroner Ho directing a fresh police investigation. Photo / Ben Tomsett  His death prompted an inquest and two previous police investigations.  At the time of the findings, police acknowledged the initial investigation fell short of expected standards.  They said changes had since been made nationally, including requiring detectives to attend and oversee investigations into the deaths of children under 10.  Police have not disclosed what work has been undertaken during the reinvestigation, whether new evidence has been identified, or when a final report will be completed.  The coroner left the inquest open pending the outcome of the police reinvestigation and directed police to report back on their progress.  Police said further information would be released once the reinvestigation process is complete.  Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:27:10 Z /news/world/machado-gave-her-peace-prize-to-trump-can-a-nobel-be-gifted/ /news/world/machado-gave-her-peace-prize-to-trump-can-a-nobel-be-gifted/ Nobel Prizes are traditionally highly coveted and prestigious awards, cherished by recipients and carrying global fame and a hefty financial reward for winners, selected for their outstanding works and contributions.  Arguably the most famous of the prizes set out by Swedish inventor and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel in his will in 1895, is the Peace Prize, which includes an 18-carat gold medal and an award of more than $1 million for an individual or organisation most contributing to “fraternity between nations”.  On Thursday, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gifted hers to President Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House.  Here’s what to know about whether a Nobel Prize can be regifted.  Why did Machado give her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump?  Machado, an opposition leader who spent almost a year in hiding before escaping Venezuela late last year, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October, with the Nobel Committee describing her as “a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness”. While Machado dedicated the prize to the “suffering people of Venezuela” and Trump “for his decisive support of our cause,” the White House accused the committee of placing “politics over peace” in its decision.  But since the US mission to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in early January, Machado appears to have been sidelined by the Trump administration, which publicly backed Maduro’s vice-president and questioned Machado’s ability to lead Venezuela.  In an interview with Fox 九一星空无限 last week, Machado praised Trump and said she and the Venezuelan people wanted to “share” the prize with him, in an apparent bid to gain favour with the United States.  Trump, who had publicly coveted the prize and claimed to have “solved” a number of international conflicts, accepted the award on Thursday, describing the move as a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect”.  What has the Nobel Committee said about it?  Nobel’s prizes reward outstanding efforts in the fields that he was most involved in during his lifetime: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace, with the first prize awarded in 1901. The prize for economic sciences was added in 1969.  The position of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute has been clear.  “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others,” they said in a statement last week. “The decision is final and stands for all time.”  “A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot,” the Nobel Peace Center wrote on social media Thursday.  Can you sell a Nobel Prize?  The Nobel Peace Prize medals bear the portrait of Alfred Nobel and are engraved with the name of the laureate and the phrase: “Pro pace et fraternitate gentium,” which translated means, “For the peace and brotherhood of men”.  Until 1980 they were made of 23-carat gold, weighing approximately 200g. Since then, they have been made of 18-carat recycled gold and mostly weigh about 175g, according to the Nobel Committee.  There have been a handful of occasions where a Nobel Prize medal has been sold.  In 2019, the estate of the late mathematician John F. Nash, jnr – made famous in the 2021 Russell Crowe movie “A Beautiful Mind” – auctioned his Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences medal, received in 1994 for his contributions to Game Theory, for $735,000, according to auction house Christie’s.  British scientist James Watson, part of a team who helped discover the structure of DNA, auctioned off his 1962 Nobel Prize Medal in Medicine or Physiology in 2014, fetching $4,757,000. He also auctioned a handwritten Nobel Prize “Banquet” speech for $365,000.  More recently, in 2022, Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold his Nobel Peace Prize medal for $103.5 million to an anonymous buyer at an auction event in New... Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:43:45 Z /news/national/homelessness-in-tauranga-cbd-rising-complaints-safety-fears-for-shops/ /news/national/homelessness-in-tauranga-cbd-rising-complaints-safety-fears-for-shops/ Businesses in Tauranga’s CBD say they are suffering and frustrated as issues with “aggressive” rough sleepers undermine revitalisation efforts.  One business moved to escape the problems, and another faces daily urine clean-ups.  Homelessness-related complaints to the Tauranga City Council have more than doubled since 2021, and people working at the coalface of the issue say homelessness has been increasing.  But they say the solutions are more complex than having enough housing.  ‘They have taken over’  The Bay of Plenty Times spoke with numerous CBD businesses, and many reported experiencing aggressive encounters and disruption.  Penny Henderson, who owns The Pottery Studio, said the business had moved from Devonport Rd to 10th Ave, in part because of issues caused by the homeless in the CBD.  “They could become quite aggressive. We’ve had one get really angry outside and start kicking things. Police came and took him away.”  Many would shout and yell at nothing – “you take a wide berth of those ones”.  The Pottery Studio was on Devonport Rd in the Tauranga CBD, but has moved to 10th Ave. Photo / Ayla Yeoman  Henderson said they had been “lucky” the neighbouring business was open during the same hours and would help when issues arose.  The Barrio Brothers and Sugo owner Josh Fitzgerald said everyone was trying to make Tauranga CBD a more attractive place, and the homelessness situation was not helping.  “Belongings are scattered all through the public space. They have full campsites.”  He had no issue with homeless people sitting and begging for money, but “they have taken over”.  “It’s the CBD business owners who suffer.  “It’s frustrating because it just seems like everyone is powerless to do anything.”  Restaurateur Josh Fitzgerald. Photo / File  Fitzgerald said a homeless person broke into one of his restaurants one night last year.  He said he did not receive any compensation for the damage caused.  Tranquillo Beauty Clinic owner Dani Sheridan said she and her staff had experienced multiple “unpleasant” interactions with the homeless on Grey St.  “A staff member of mine was almost bitten by one of their dogs.”  Staffer Moenah O’Shea said a few weeks ago a car parked up beside hers with two women who seemed to be living in it.  She noticed a large, muscular dog, similar to a pitbull, hanging around the car, which made her nervous.  “I slowly kept walking to my car and all of a sudden the dog just barked, growled, and then ran straight at me and jumped on me.”  Tranquillo Beauty Clinic staff member Moenah O’Shea and owner Dani Sheridan outside the Grey St business. Photo / Ayla Yeoman  As she turned away, a bottle of wine in her bag hit the dog, confusing it and providing enough time for its owner to notice what was happening.  “The two ladies just kept yelling at the dog rather than coming over and escorting their dog away.”  She “freaked out” when she saw another dog coming from the front of the car, but managed to escape into her vehicle.  During the nearly four years she had been working on Grey St, O’Shea said, she had noticed the homeless people in the area becoming more aggressive.  Customers often told her how unsafe they felt with people sitting in doorways, arguing in the street and causing disturbances.  “We’re trying to rebuild town, and having something like this makes people go to malls instead.”  Sheridan said they tried to be empathetic, but when clients felt intimidated they had to step in.  Stassano Deli on Grey St has also had problems with the homeless. Photo / Ayla Yeoman  Stassano Deli store manager Louise Pretorius said one man in particular was causing problems for them.  “He sits or lies on the benches, throwing empty coffee cups that trash our entrances.  “Another homeless lady walks up Grey St every morning and swe... Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:26:52 Z /news/national/skin-cancer-warning-33yo-hawke-s-bay-father-dies-from-melanoma-on-new-year-s-eve/ /news/national/skin-cancer-warning-33yo-hawke-s-bay-father-dies-from-melanoma-on-new-year-s-eve/ More than 7000 melanomas are diagnosed in New Zealand every year, and about 300 people die from this type of skin cancer annually.  This summer, as Hawke’s Bay residents face some of the region’s highest temperatures, one Eskdale family became part of those statistics.  Rory Aroa, a 33-year-old father of two young children, died from the disease about 11am on New Year’s Eve, after the cancer returned and spread aggressively, including to his brain.  Aroa leaves behind his wife, Bex Howie, and their children, Archie, 4, and Olive, 2.  “Olive is too little to understand but she definitely is questioning where he is. Archie understood a lot more than I expected,” Howie said.  “The biggest thing with that age is they don’t understand the idea of permanence. He understands Dad’s gone, but can’t quite grasp that he won’t be back.”  Rory Aroa and his daughter Olive.  For much of Aroa’s adult life, he was careful in the sun and did not work or play outdoors, Howie said.  “Rory was pretty pre-cautious with the sun. I’m sure a young Rory had many occasions where sunblock wasn’t at the top of his list, but he was no more exposed than the rest of us growing up and certainly not as an adult.”  Aroa was first diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in 2021 after a mole was removed and found to be cancerous. That initial round of cancer was treated with surgery, and he went into remission.  But last year, he was dealing with back pain when lumps began appearing on his neck and shoulders.  “He went from being a busy day working long hours one week, to being flown to Palmerston North for urgent radiation therapy the next,” Howie said.  Scans revealed the melanoma had spread throughout his body, including to his brain. From that point, Howie said it was clear that treatment would be palliative, aimed at extending life rather than curing the disease.  Aroa underwent full brain and lower back radiation therapy in Palmerston North, before continuing targeted treatment from home.  “It was really tough seeing him in stages of pain and ... changes in his cognitive function ... it was usually a lot of short memory loss and progressively just general personality changes that happened over time,” Howie said.  “Considering the circumstances Rory remained incredibly positive throughout the journey, which I thought was so admirable.  “He was under no illusion that he wasn’t likely survive but had a great mindset to try anyway ... he fought every day until the end.”  As his condition worsened, the Hawke’s Bay community rallied around the family.  In October, friends at Bay Espresso organised a 26-hour coffee marathon, raising nearly $20,000 to support them and donations are still open at their Givealittle page.  The couple married on December 7, three weeks before Aroa died at 11.11am on December 31, surrounded by his family.  With his death, Howie says her focus has shifted to ensuring others understand the risks of melanoma.  “If we’ve learnt anything from this is that this can happen to anyone,” she says.  “Rory for sure fell into a high-risk demographic, being that he was a light-skinned, fair-haired, blue-eyed male living in one of the worst, most dangerous regions for skin cancer.  “I think skin cancer especially in our region is probably not talked about enough. Rory was not an anomaly. He was one of many young people in Hawke’s Bay who have died from the exact same cancer.”  Dermoscopist Victoria Macleod-Muir, who works in melanoma detection in Taradale, said melanoma is the most common cancer in New Zealand among people between the ages of 15 and 40.  “Two out of three Kiwis will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime,” she says.  Macleod-Muir said melanoma can be linked to sun exposure, genetics or having multiple or unusual moles, and early detection was critical.  “Everyone over the age of 15 in New Z... Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:07:19 Z /news/national/ed-sheeran-go-media-stadium-show-triggers-heavy-auckland-traffic-delays/ /news/national/ed-sheeran-go-media-stadium-show-triggers-heavy-auckland-traffic-delays/ Traffic is already starting to build around Auckland before Ed Sheeran’s concert at Go Media Stadium.  NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has shown an hour before gates open for the show a journey from Bombay to the city is taking about 90 minutes as opposed to the usual half hour.  A journey in the other direction could take over an hour, while other roads across the city are clogged up as well.  NZTA said Albany to Manukau will take nearly 55 minutes and Te Atatū to Manukau is expected to take motorists 40 minutes to completed, over double the usual expected time.  Concert goers have already warned others heading to the stadium later about the traffic, with one person posting on Facebook urging others to leave as soon as possible.  “If you’re going to Ed Sheeran tonight leave now! Bombay on-ramp is jammed with roadworks and the motorway is screwed to Manurewa.”  One commenter said the traffic wasn’t moving “all the way from Drury to [Princes St]”, while another claimed all the access roads were starting to jam as well.  A road hazard has been identified by NZTA heading north on the Southern Motorway, which is due to a previous breakdown just after the Alfriston Overpass.  Motorists driving in that direction have been advised to expect delays with congestion remaining heavy in the area.  Traffic is starting to build around Auckland ahead of Ed Sheeran's concert at Go Media Stadium. Photo / Google  Sheeran will be playing two nights at Go Media Stadium, with up to 45,000 people expected to attend each show.  After gates open at 4pm, support acts Vance Joy, Mia Wray and Biird will kick off the New Zealand leg of the British singer-songwriter’s Loop Tour before he takes the stage later in the evening.  Public transport is limited with a full rail closure in place for most of January, but ticket holders can catch special event buses from the CBD and bus travel is included in the event ticket.  Uber and taxi pick-up and drop-off zones are available near the stadium while there is no on-site general parking.  Three roads near the stadium will be closed for the concert until midnight, including Beasley Ave from 5am and Maurice and O’Rorke Rds from 3pm.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:38:40 Z /news/sport/scott-robertson-s-exit-world-media-reacts-to-axing-of-all-blacks-coach/ /news/sport/scott-robertson-s-exit-world-media-reacts-to-axing-of-all-blacks-coach/ 九一星空无限 of Scott Robertson’s exit from his role as All Blacks coach produced wide-ranging commentary from rugby pundits around the world.  ‘Neither should have been appointed captain’  Stuart Barnes, The Times  “It is worth wondering what would have happened had the brilliant back-row forward [Ardie Savea] been captain of the team, acting as the link between the players and the coach. Instead, Robertson appointed the sturdy Scott Barrett, also a Crusader, as skipper. Barrett is the only All Black to have been twice dismissed wearing the Silver Fern. Red cards aside, the other thing that [Sam] Cane and Barrett have in common is that neither should have been appointed captain of the All Blacks.  “In a country that has given the rugby world Richie McCaw, arguably the greatest captain in the history of the sport, it is breathtaking that either of these men should have been selected ahead of Savea.”  ‘Huffing and puffing’  Robert Kitson, The Guardian  “As much as England’s 33-19 win was a striking result, New Zealand were transparently not their usual forbidding selves. Whatever Razor was muttering into the ears of his backs, in particular, was definitely not working; when an All Black backline looks so visibly short of cohesion and rhythm, there is trouble at mill.  “Add to that the humbling 43-10 defeat at home by a rampant South Africa, the heaviest in the All Blacks’ 120-year history, plus a first-ever loss in Argentina and the review was never likely to be cosy.  “On the flip side, for all their huffing and puffing, New Zealand are still ranked second in the world, ahead of England and Ireland. It is way too early, accordingly, to write them off as 2027 World Cup contenders in Australia. As South Africa have proved in the past, a mid-cycle jolt can sometimes concentrate minds and prove highly beneficial.”  Scott Robertson shelters form the rain ahead of this year's Bledisloe Cup test against Australia, in Perth. Photo / SmartFrame  ‘Far bigger problems below the surface’  Daniel Schofield, The Telegraph  “Whoever the man is at the top, there are far bigger problems below the surface. On England’s 2024 tour to New Zealand, I was struck by how little the All Blacks’ series resonated with the man on the street – or specifically with a series of taxi drivers who I used as my census. In Auckland, the popularity of the NRL franchise Warriors completely outstrips that of the Blues in Super Rugby while, all over the country, there is evidence of declining participation rates (although this is a problem that is far from unique to New Zealand)."  ‘Great expectations’  Gavin Mairs, The Telegraph  “The first task for whoever succeeds Robinson [sic] will be to address the concerns of senior players, including Savea, with the knowledge that time is running out before the World Cup in Australia next year.  “Robertson’s appointment in 2024 was accompanied with great expectations, given his superb record with the Crusaders, but he failed to replicate that form with the national side.”  ‘A superpower in decline’  Mike Henson, BBC  “The All Black brand is based on over a century of dominating rugby union, which has seen them transcend the sport and become a global cultural phenomenon.  “That a small country with a population of a little over five million is, by some distance, the most consistently successful in the history of the men’s game is an astonishing achievement that has spawned a whole cottage industry in management gurus claiming to explain their over-performance.  “But, with Robertson’s dismissal on Thursday, there is a sense of a superpower in decline.”  ‘Unable to find the crucial fixes’  Sam Bruce, ESPN  “From an inconsistent attack, a severe issue under the high ball, and a failure to finish games off, Robertson was simply unable to find the crucial fixes he needed to convince not only the NZR board, bu... Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:17:14 Z /news/national/woman-allegedly-attacked-on-west-auckland-bus-as-driver-unaware/ /news/national/woman-allegedly-attacked-on-west-auckland-bus-as-driver-unaware/ A woman was allegedly attacked by a group on a popular West Auckland bus route while the driver remained completely unaware.  The Herald understands the female passenger on the way to work was attacked by a group about midday yesterday on a key West Auckland bus route.  It is understood that the assault at the back of the bus was “unprovoked”.  An Auckland Transport (AT) spokesperson said they were aware of the incident.  “The driver was unaware of the altercation that took place in the back of the bus, and it was brought to the attention of the driver at the end of the trip,” the spokesperson said.  The spokesperson said the driver offered to call an ambulance, but the customer refused.  AT said the bus operator (Kinetic) will be reviewing the CCTV footage from the incident and will be assisting the police with their inquiries.  AT said the police responded and will be investigating.  Recent public transport attacks  This incident comes after several recent Auckland bus attacks, including one where a man was stabbed to death.  Early last month, 59-year-old Sefo Leger died after an alleged “unprovoked attack” on the No 76 bus as it travelled from Glen Innes towards Ōrākei.  Police at Fenchurch St, Glenn Innes, following a fatal knife attack. Photo / Michael Craig  This knife attack involved an assault on two separate people at different times on the same bus journey.  Just this week, an Auckland bus driver was sprayed with a fire extinguisher by an “aggressive” passenger, police said.  The alleged assault happened aboard the 27H bus south of Mt Eden Rd near Mt Eden Village, about 6pm on Tuesday.  In northern Auckland, multiple unprovoked assaults have occurred in recent months by young people.  In one of the incidents last month, a 16-year-old boy was allegedly violently attacked on an NX1 bus from Albany to the Hibiscus Coast, and was left terrified after he was repeatedly punched in the face.  AT data revealed that hundreds of people have reported violent incidents on services between November 2023 and November 2025.  On bus and ferry services alone, there were 256 records of abuse, 209 of assault and 286 of injury.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:10:02 Z /news/national/auckland-teens-arrested-after-store-burglary-sparks-90-minute-high-speed-dash-across-city/ /news/national/auckland-teens-arrested-after-store-burglary-sparks-90-minute-high-speed-dash-across-city/ An early morning burglary in East Auckland triggered a 90-minute high-speed dash across the city, with three teens taken into custody after weaving in and out of traffic – at times on the wrong side of the road – in an attempt to evade arrest.  Police were alerted to an active burglary taking place on Moore St, Howick, around 5.30am, after a member of the public saw three people breaking into a store through smashed windows.  The group reportedly threatened a witness with a weapon before fleeing in a stolen vehicle, taking “a number of electronic goods” with them, said Acting Detective Inspector Chris Robson of Counties Manukau.  Police said they quickly located the stolen Toyota Aqua on Chapel Rd in East Tamaki, but the suspects fled at high speed.  The Eagle helicopter tracked the vehicle as it travelled through Ōtara and Flat Bush before heading on to the Southern Motorway, Robson said.  “For the next hour, the vehicle has been driven dangerously on the wrong side of the road and at speed, weaving in and out of traffic through Waitematā and back through to Counties Manukau before it was successfully spiked on Redoubt Rd,” he said.  The 90-minute pursuit began after police were alerted to a trio of teens allegedly burgling an electronics store on Moore St, Howick.  The vehicle came to a stop on Diorella Dr in Clover Park, where three teenagers aged 14 and 15 were arrested.  One of teenagers was taken to hospital after being bitten by a police dog during the arrest.  Charges are now being considered for the three teenagers.  “I acknowledge all the staff involved this morning who worked together to apprehend these offenders,” Robson said.  “It’s also a reminder that quick reporting and providing as much detail as possible greatly assists us in being able to stop offenders in their tracks.”  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:06:54 Z /news/national/new-zealand-vacates-embassy-in-iran-as-threat-of-violence-escalates/ /news/national/new-zealand-vacates-embassy-in-iran-as-threat-of-violence-escalates/ New Zealand’s embassy in Iran has temporarily closed because of what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says is a “deteriorating” security situation.  Human rights groups estimate the death toll has reached over 2500 since protests against the regime began last month.  A ministry spokesperson said all diplomatic staff left Iran on commercial flights overnight, shifting operations to Ankara in Turkey.  On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand was “appalled” by an escalation of violence and repression.  “We condemn the brutal crackdown being carried out by Iran’s security forces, including the killing of protesters,” Peters said.  “Iranians have the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression and access to information – and that right is currently being brutally repressed.”  The Government has continued to advise against all travel to Iran, and for any New Zealanders in the country to leave now.  “The ability of the New Zealand Government to provide consular assistance to New Zealanders in Iran remains extremely limited,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said.  “There are severe communication challenges in Iran, which are limiting the ability of people to get in touch with family and friends. When they are able to, New Zealanders in Iran should let family and friends know they are safe.”  Protests against the regime began in the capital Tehran in late December. Photo / Getty Images  Earlier this week the United Kingdom also temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, with all staff evacuated.  Protests against the regime began in the capital Tehran in late December, sparked by the country’s dire economic conditions, and have since spread across the country.  US President Donald Trump had threatened military action over Tehran’s severe response to the protests.  - RNZ  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 02:26:19 Z /news/national/christopher-luxon-poised-to-water-down-auckland-housing-intensification-plan/ /news/national/christopher-luxon-poised-to-water-down-auckland-housing-intensification-plan/ The Government is poised to water down controversial planning rules in Auckland that allow capacity for two million homes over the coming decades.  In a column in today’s Herald, political columnist Matthew Hooton said a U-turn could come as soon as Monday to deny Act, New Zealand First and Labour a potent issue on which to raid the blue vote at this year’s election.  The Post newspaper in Wellington also reported that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has made a captain’s call to water down intensification plans in the suburbs, which had been championed by Housing Minister Chris Bishop.  The Prime Minister’s office said it did not have anything to add at this point and directed the Herald to Bishop’s office.  Housing Minister Chris Bishop. Photo / Mark Mitchell  In a statement to the Herald, Bishop said, “The Government is considering a range of options around housing capacity targets for Auckland, and as Minister of Housing I will have more to say soon.”  In a brief statement, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he had not been contacted directly by the Government about changes to housing figures, but believed Hooton had summed up the situation quite well.  Brown, who supports greater intensification across the city, told the Post the excessive “target” had “upset a whole lot of people over something that will never happen”.  Thousands of Aucklanders have weighed in on the Government’s mandated intensification plans for the city, which open the door to two million potential homes but tightens controls on building in flood‑prone areas.  More than 5000 Aucklanders had a say on Plan Change 120 when submissions closed last month. The proposed changes are the most significant shake‑up of Auckland’s planning rules since the 2016 Unitary Plan, increasing building heights and density around major transport routes and town centres, which have wide support.  But there is strong push-back about extending intensification into suburban streets and replacing villas and bungalows with apartments in the city’s oldest suburbs. Concerns have also been raised about the impact of intensification on physical and social infrastructure.  The plan change is being overseen by the Auckland Council after Bishop told the council it could withdraw from the previous Government’s rules allowing three homes of up to three storeys on most residential sites, but only if it delivered the same overall capacity, estimated at two million homes.  At a packed public meeting in Luxon’s Botany electorate last month, there were calls for the Government to pull back the two million housing figure, with Howick councillor Bo Burns saying people in East Auckland were not the only ones alarmed. People in other National strongholds like Ōrākei, Mt Eden and Franklin were too.  Former National Cabinet minister Maurice Williamson today said there had to be a U-turn.  “I just can’t understand how they [National] have been foolish enough to let it run so long and over the barbecue season,” said Williamson, who warned the Government before Christmas to pull back, saying the issue was leading to public anger and would cost National votes at this year’s election.  Former National Cabinet minister Maurice Williamson has attacked Chris Bishop's intensification plan for Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig  “The better time would have been to do it quickly rather than let it drag on. They will look like they have done it because they have buckled under pressure as opposed to saying, ‘We have listened’, which is a good outcome politically,” he said.  Williamson, who is now one of two councillors for the Howick ward, said he had not heard if National had decided to do a U-turn, but at a meeting of the Howick Local Board had predicted a backdown.  In his column, Hooton said National strategists say they realised the two million figure had become a lightning rod for criticism.  He said options in... Fri, 16 Jan 2026 02:23:31 Z /news/sport/asb-classic-sebastian-baez-stuns-top-seed-ben-shelton-in-auckland-quarter-finals/ /news/sport/asb-classic-sebastian-baez-stuns-top-seed-ben-shelton-in-auckland-quarter-finals/ Top seed Ben Shelton is out of the ASB Classic.  The American has fallen at the quarter-final stage, beaten in straight sets by Sebastian Baez (Argentina) on Friday. World No 39 Baez, who is the seventh seed here, is on a hot run after winning all three United Cup matches to start the week. But it was a strangely off-colour display by world No 8 Shelton, who struggled to build any momentum in the 7-5, 6-3 loss.  It’s Shelton’s first defeat (from 13 matches) against Argentine players and just the third time in 21 attempts that Baez has beaten someone ranked inside the top 10.  Rain halted the match on Thursday night, with Baez ahead 7-5, 0-1. The contest continued in bright sunshine on Friday, with the players walking on to court at 12.15pm. But the signs were not good from the start, as Shelton was broken in his first service game after a loose backhand.  Baez seemed to have an answer for everything, at one stage running down a drop shot from the opposite corner of the court. Shelton was trying to bring his full armoury, with some wicked serves and big shots, but was erratic and plagued by constant errors.  He had a chance to break back at 3-4 down, but Baez defended the opportunity before the pivotal ninth game. Shelton was a bit careless, while Baez managed another of his trademark drop shots and the American was soon in trouble at 15-40.  The 23-year-old saved one match point with a booming 197km/h serve but that was the last of the resistance. On the next point he shanked a backhand, with the ball flying off the frame and into the air, which summed up his unfortunate day.  Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:56:50 Z /news/national/fraser-st-homicide-woman-now-charged-with-murder-over-man-s-death-in-tauranga/ /news/national/fraser-st-homicide-woman-now-charged-with-murder-over-man-s-death-in-tauranga/ A murder charge has now been laid after the death of a man in Tauranga last month.  The man was found dead at a Fraser St address on Sunday, December 14, after emergency services were called to the property at 11.40am.  A 37-year-old woman, initially charged with assault on a person in a relationship, had been charged with murder today after further inquiries, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam said.  The woman appeared via audio-visual link in the Tauranga District Court this morning.  Her lawyer, Ben Smith, sought a remand without plea on all eight charges she faces.  The murder charge has been severed from the other matters and transferred to the High Court.  She will appear again on that charge in early February.  The charges remaining in the District Court include importing/exporting fantasy-type substance, possession of firearm/ammunition, intentional damage, and assaulting person with stabbing/cutting.  Her next appearance on those matters will be on March 9.  The woman has been granted continued interim name suppression.  Investigation continues  Varnam said the police investigation into the death of the man was ongoing.  “Tauranga police would like to hear from anyone who may have information about this incident or those involved.”  Anyone with information was asked to contact police online at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105, and using the reference number 251214/9237.  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:51:56 Z /news/entertainment/ed-sheeran-auckland-concert-guide-gate-times-road-closures-what-you-can-bring/ /news/entertainment/ed-sheeran-auckland-concert-guide-gate-times-road-closures-what-you-can-bring/ Pop superstar Ed Sheeran kicks off the first of his Loop Tour New Zealand shows at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on Friday night.  He’s bringing with him the biggest ever screen built in New Zealand and a barrage of hits.  Are you one of the thousands heading along on Friday or Saturday for a Sing? Here’s what you need to know to have a Perfect night, from when and how to get there, to how to get your own temporary Ed tattoo.  Entry times, merch stalls and box office  Gates at Go Media Stadium in Penrose open at 4pm, with the show starting at 5.15pm. Those arriving for the 5.15 time will have the opportunity to experience opening acts Vance Joy (of Riptide fame), Mia Wray, Biird, before Sheeran takes to the stage.  The merch tents outside of Go Media Stadium will be open from 2pm. This is also the time the box office will be open, where you can purchase tickets (still available for both nights) or sort out any ticketing issues. This will be located at Gate B.  The event is expected to end at approximately 11pm. As with all shows, timings are subject to change.  Make sure to carefully look at your ticket to find the correct entry point. There will be signs to help direct you to the correct gate, as well as staff to help you if you are unsure. Auckland Stadiums also has a digital wayfinding app on its website that people can access for extra help finding their way around Go Media Stadium.  Singer Vance Joy will open for Ed Sheeran. Photo / Hanna Lassen  Parking and road closures  There is no on-site parking available at Go Media Stadium, and patrons are encouraged to use public transport (although see our note about train travel below).  There will be road closures around the stadium: Beasley Ave (5am-midnight), Maurice Rd, O’Rorke Rd, Station Rd, Fairfax Ave, Olive Rd, Walls Rd (3pm-midnight).  Parking restrictions are in place too: Beasley Ave (until January 18, 1am), O’Rorke Rd, Station Rd, Fairfax Ave, Olive Rd, Walls Rd and Rockfield Rd (January 16, 2.30pm-January 18, 1pm).  People who live in these areas can provide valid proof of address to get through, and any mobility parking queries can be directed to info@aucklandstadiums.co.nz.  Getting there  There will be no trains running on both days, with buses replacing trains, but bus and ferry transport is free from 3.30pm with your event ticket. People are encouraged to download the AT Journey Planner App to map their best route to Go Media Stadium.  Special event buses will leave from the CBD between 3-7.30pm from 120 Quay St. After the concert, they will run until crowds are clear from the stadium, departing from Station Rd and dropping off in the city on Custom St West (opposite H&M).  If you’re keen to look like the man himself, a pop-up Ed’s Tattoo Parlour will be running at the Penrose special event bus hub, where a temporary tattoos and glitter station will be set up.  For those not taking public transport or driving, there are also two taxi and rideshare drop-off and pick-up zones – one between 150-167 Rockfield Rd, and another between 312-334 Church St.  Sheeran's heart has a special place in New Zealand.  What you can, should and can’t bring  While Sheeran may see fire in his song, it’s strictly off limits at Go Media Stadium, which is a smoke and vape-free venue.  No bags larger than A4 size (21cm x 30cm) are allowed inside the stadium, and for those in GA, no camping chairs either. If your bag is too big, gates A, B & C all have bag drops.  Alcohol, drugs, fireworks and weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited.  Everyone except for those in the Front GA section can bring in plastic bottles up to 750ml, both disposable and reusable. All lids will be removed and discarded upon entry, but no metal bottles will be allowed in. There will be plenty of free water stations around the venue to refill bottles.  Want to give Sheeran a... Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:08:29 Z /news/national/sir-tim-shadbolt-to-be-farewelled-in-invercargill-today/ /news/national/sir-tim-shadbolt-to-be-farewelled-in-invercargill-today/ (function(n){function c(t,i){n[e](h,function(n){var r,u;if(n&&(r=n[n.message?"message":"data"]+"",r&&r.substr&&r.substr(0,3)==="nc:")&&(u=r.split(":"),u[1]===i))switch(u[2]){case"h":t.style.height=u[3]+"px";return;case"scrolltotop":t.scrollIntoView();return}},!1)}for(var t,u,f,i,s,e=n.addEventListener?"addEventListener":"attachEvent",h=e==="attachEvent"?"onmessage":"message",o=n.document.querySelectorAll(".live-center-embed"),r=0;r',c(t.firstChild,i)))})(window); Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:00 Z /news/world/venezuela-s-maria-corina-machado-says-she-presented-her-nobel-peace-prize-medal-to-us-president-donald-trump/ /news/world/venezuela-s-maria-corina-machado-says-she-presented-her-nobel-peace-prize-medal-to-us-president-donald-trump/ Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says she has “presented” her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump, who has openly coveted the award that the Nobel committee says cannot be transferred.  “I presented the President of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” Machado told reporters outside the US Capitol after her White House meeting with Trump on Thursday (US time).  Machado, whom Trump had earlier dismissed as unfit to lead Venezuela, did not clarify if Trump kept it.  She drew a comparison to the Marquis de Lafayette, the French officer who helped the United States in the Revolutionary War against Britain, saying he handed a medal with the image of the first US President, George Washington, to Simon Bolivar, the Venezuelan who led a wave of successful independence fights against Spain.  “Two hundred years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington a medal – in this case, the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom,” she said.  The Norwegian Nobel Committee earlier wrote in a statement on X that the prestigious prize “cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others” and that the name of the winner “stands for all time” even if the medal physically changes hands.  Trump – who has relished military action and on Thursday was threatening greater force against protesters in the US state of Minnesota – has loudly said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and was dismissive of Machado when she won it.  Trump on January 3 ordered a deadly military raid into oil-rich Venezuela that removed Nicolas Maduro, the leftist President long described as illegitimate by the US and several other countries because of elections riddled with reported irregularities.  But after the operation, Trump said Machado – whose opposition forces were considered by Washington to have won the last election – does not command the “respect” to lead Venezuela.  Trump instead has vowed to work with Maduro’s Vice-President turned interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, by threatening her with force if she does not comply with key US demands, starting with benefiting US oil firms.  – Agence France-Presse  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:53:36 Z /news/national/major-police-incident-in-auckland-as-police-officers-head-to-onehunga-street/ /news/national/major-police-incident-in-auckland-as-police-officers-head-to-onehunga-street/ One person is critically injured after a firearms incident in a central Auckland suburb. Armed officers are blocking several roads in Onehunga, including one metres from the busy Dress Smart outlet mall. The incident occurred on nearby Arthur St. A person is critically injured after a firearms incident on Arthur Street, Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig Earlier, the police Eagle helicopter circled overhead. Police said they received reports soon after 11am that a person had suffered injuries consistent with a gunshot wound at a property on Arthur St. “One person has been transported to hospital in a critical condition. An increased police presence will remain in the area while inquiries are underway.” Hato Hone St John was notified of the incident at 11.09am. One ambulance, one rapid response unit and one operations manager responded to the incident. A person is critically injured after a firearms incident on Arthur Street, Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig Emergency services are responding to a major firearms incident on the corner of Arthur St and Alfred St in Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig  Paramedics treated one person at the scene before taking them to Auckland City Hospital. A resident was out walking her two dogs when she noticed armed police officers blocking the road. Another resident told her it had been a “gangland shooting”. “A guy jumped out of a black vehicle and opened fire. A person is critically injured after a firearms incident on Arthur Street, Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig Police talk to residents following a major firearms incident on the corner of Arthur St and Alfred St in Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig  “It’s super disturbing, particularly police standing there with guns.” She said she was pleased she had delayed her walk this morning. “I do the same walk every morning and go past that house.” Another resident was surprised to see the incident unfolding. “It’s usually a pretty quiet street.” Police could be seen speaking to residents on the street behind the cordon. A woman who lives close to the incident told the Herald that most roads remained blocked in the area, and the Armed Offenders Squad was at the scene. She said a police officer escorted her father to his door as he returned from a doctor’s appointment. Several police vehicles with lights flashing could be seen parked on the side of the road. Outside one property, a series of chairs were set up on the footpath with people watching the police response. Police dealt with a serious incident on Arthur St, Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig Police dealt with a serious incident on Arthur St, Onehunga. Photo / Michael Craig Earlier, more than half a dozen police cars could be seen speeding down Manukau Rd towards Onehunga, while an ambulance rushed to hospital in the opposite direction. A post of the Onehunga Community Patrol Facebook group said, “Yes, there has been a firearms incident on Arthur St, near Alfred. Please avoid the area if possible. Police have the area locked down. “There is a lot of speculation occurring online. As info becomes confirmed, we will update. Stay safe, everyone.” Emergency services could be seen rushing down Manukau Rd to the scene. Photo / Supplied  A Grotto St resident said he heard several cars speeding down the road about the time of the incident and had just learned of the shooting via social media. “It’s absolutely crazy what’s going on right now. I’ve never seen anything like it.” The nearby Arthur Superette is closed, with its roller door drawn down. Anyone with any information is being asked to contact police via 105, either over the phone or online, using the reference number P065151258. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers online or through 0800 555 111. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:22:24 Z /news/national/karen-aim-killing-parole-declined-for-jahche-broughton-who-murdered-scottish-tourist-with-baseball-bat/ /news/national/karen-aim-killing-parole-declined-for-jahche-broughton-who-murdered-scottish-tourist-with-baseball-bat/ A killer who has spent more than half his life behind bars after murdering a Scottish tourist with a baseball bat has been declined parole for the seventh time.  In 2008, Jahche Broughton, then aged 14, brutally attacked 26-year-old tourist Karen Aim while she was visiting Taupō on a trip around New Zealand.  The Scottish tourist had been at a party and encountered Broughton walking back to her accommodation.  The teenager had just used a bat to smash windows at a local school.  He viciously attacked Aim with the bat and continued beating her as she lay injured on the street.  He fractured her skull, causing extensive brain injuries.  Several days earlier, Broughton had bashed another woman so badly with a rock that she required 30 staples and stitches to her head.  A year after the incident that shocked the nation, Broughton pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12-and-a-half years.  At a recent parole board hearing, the teen killer, who has been behind bars for 18 years, via his legal counsel “objected to what is described as the conventional step of transitioning into the community through a less restrictive pathway, including self-care”.  Jahche Broughton assaulted a young woman days before he murdered Scottish tourist Karen Aim. Photo / 九一星空无限  Broughton told the board through his counsel that the conventional way of transitioning would deprive him of access to the support of key whānau members.  He said he had made a “vow”, formalised through a process under the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957, that he would not enter self-care units in a prison-centric environment. He argued that the way forward was for him to reintegrate directly into the community, subject to wraparound support.  He first became eligible for parole in 2020, but it was at his third appearance before the New Zealand Parole Board in 2023 that he finally gave some insight into why he killed Aim.  “He described some of his background and reason for the attacks as a lack of understanding of who he was, being brought up with no boundaries, and the abuse of drugs and alcohol.  “He said, he thought at the time of the violence, that violence with regard to both of these women was, in his words, ‘normal’ and that the offending was ‘an accident,’ Parole Board chairman, Sir Ron Young said in that report.  Jahche Broughton killed Scottish tourist Karen Aim in 2008. The Parole Board said Broughton poses a high risk of re-offending. Photo / Composite / 九一星空无限.  Five years ago, Broughton completed the Special Treatment Unit Programme for Violent Offending, followed by a drug treatment programme.  He currently holds a minimum-security classification and has demonstrated ongoing good conduct and compliance.  “Mr Broughton has had a good record of work within the prison, although he was recently stood down from his role in the kitchen for not following instructions,” the board said.  A psychological assessment assessed Broughton as being amongst a group of inmates who posed a high risk of violent reoffending and has high reintegrative needs.  “The report concludes with the recommendation that he should continue with reintegration activities and engage with the psychologist to assist him in managing that process,” the board said.  At last year’s hearing, the panel convenor, Neville Trendle, said, “We explored Mr Broughton’s difference of view with respect to the pathway proposed in the psychologist’s report, but we had difficulty in understanding the basis for what a dogmatic opposition to the proposal was.”  Jahche Broughton, who killed Scottish Tourist Karen Aim in 2008, will appear again before the Parole Board before October 2026. Photo / 九一星空无限  “In the Board’s view, Broughton’s transition to the community in an orderly and structured way is essential, having regard to the 18 years he has spent... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:20:19 Z /news/national/wait%C4%81rere-beach-shooting-girl-left-traumatised-police-yet-to-interview-injured-trio/ /news/national/wait%C4%81rere-beach-shooting-girl-left-traumatised-police-yet-to-interview-injured-trio/ The young girl who made a silent 111 call alerting authorities to a shooting at a property in Waitārere this week is said to be “incredibly traumatised”. Police have issued an appeal to members of the public for “time and space” to carry out their investigation, after the grisly discovery in the early hours of Wednesday. A man was found dead and three others - a woman and two young males including a teenager - were found with critical injuries from gunshot wounds. Manawatū Area Commander Ross Grantham said this morning that they were dealing with an incredibly tragic situation and acknowledged many people were looking for answers. “It is important to remember alongside that however, that we still have three people critically injured and fighting for their lives in hospital. “And we have a young girl who – while uninjured – is incredibly traumatised by what has occurred. No child should ever have to experience what this young girl did that night." More to come Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:54:49 Z /news/national/hamilton-crash-two-people-die-after-two-vehicles-collide-on-te-rapa-rd/ /news/national/hamilton-crash-two-people-die-after-two-vehicles-collide-on-te-rapa-rd/ Two people have died in a serious crash on a key road into Hamilton city overnight.  The crash, involving two vehicles, occurred on Te Rapa Rd in the residential suburb of Beerescourt.  Police say emergency services were called to the scene around 12.30am, where they found two people had died.  The road was closed between Forest Lake Rd and Vardon Rd this morning to allow the Serious Crash Unit to conduct a scene examination, but was now being reopened, a police spokesperson said.  A neighbour over the road, who did not want to be named, said he heard a loud bang outside his house about 12.25am this morning.  When he went outside, there was already a body on the road.  One of the cars veered into a property along Te Rapa Rd. Photo / Tom Eley  The man and his wife had lived in the area for 10 years and this was the first serious accident of this nature, he said.  According to his wife, the crash was not cleared until 3am and they have had very little sleep since.  The immediate next door neighbour said he was woken up by the neighbours already on the road.  He was pretty sure there were casualties, he said.  Hato Hone St John said it was alerted to the incident at 12.28am and sent two ambulances, one rapid response unit and an operations manager to respond.  Two fire trucks were also sent to assist, remaining on the scene for approximately 40 minutes, Fire and Emergency shift manager Josh Pennefather said.  Earlier, police said they were unable to confirm any information regarding injuries to those involved, with the public urged to avoid the area and expect delays.  An investigation into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.  Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:26:01 Z /news/national/weather-severe-thunderstorm-watch-for-parts-of-north-island-cold-temperatures-for-south-island/ /news/national/weather-severe-thunderstorm-watch-for-parts-of-north-island-cold-temperatures-for-south-island/ Almost 18,000 lightning strikes have been recorded over the past 19 hours as severe thunderstorms continue to rumble across the North Island.  MetService says between noon yesterday and 7am nearly 18,000 strikes were registered between Northland and Manawatū and surrounding waters.  Taranaki and Waikato recorded the greatest number of strikes.  It comes as a fresh severe thunderstorm threat is now in force for Ōpōtoki, Gisborne and Whakatāne with residents told to take cover as the violent storms hit.  MetService issued the warning at 8.44am with a line of electrical storms lying from Ruatoki North to Waimana to Kutarere.  “This line of severe thunderstorms is moving towards the south-southeast, and is expected to lie from Matahi to Waimana to the Waioeka Gorge at 9.07am, and near the Waioeka Gorge at 9.37am.”  The forecaster warned the thunderstorms would be accompanied by torrential rain and came with a threat of flash flooding.  At the same time the electrical storm was due to hit Waioeka Gorge was closed by flooding and slips.  SH2 WAIOWEKA GORGE, BAY OF PLENTY - SLIP- 9:20AM, FRI 16 JANUARY Waioweka Gorge is closed due to a slip. Allow extra time for a long detour via SH30 and SH5. ^KF— NZ Transport Agency - Waikato & Bay of Plenty (@nztawbop) January 15, 2026 NZTA said the highway was now closed between Matawai and Waioeka and warned motorists to avoid the area or delay their journey if possible.  MetService has lifted an earlier severe thunderstorm warning for the Bay of Plenty that came into force earlier this morning, but a heavy rain warning remains in place.  The forecaster has been issuing fresh thunderstorm warnings for parts of the North Island throughout this morning as individual storm cells develop.  An earlier warning, issued just after 6am, affected Ōpōtiki, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatāne, Kawerau and Rotorua and was lifted at 6.50am.  “These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain,” the forecaster said.  “Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.”  A heavy rain warning from last night is still in place until 11am for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.  A severe thunderstorm watch is also in force until 11am for Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Waikato. MetService said there was a “moderate risk” of severe thunderstorms bringing downpours with rainfall of 25-40mm/h.  “Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.”  It follows Thursday’s severe weather which saw several reported tornadoes sweeping across the North Island, with reports of damage to buildings and downed trees and fences.  🟧🟡UPDATED Heavy Rain Watches and Warnings, ⚡Thunderstorms and Downpours⛈️⛈️The risk of downpours due to thunderstorms is there for all of the North Island.⚡This means that on top of Heavy Rain Warnings and or Watches, places could see Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued… pic.twitter.com/qq0bM0LfJf— MetService NZ (@MetService) January 15, 2026 Mixed bag for today’s weather  Variable weather is forecast across New Zealand today, with warmer temperatures in the North Island and colder conditions in the South.  MetService meteorologist Michael Pauley told the Herald the low-pressure system, which brought heavy rain and thunderstorms yesterday, would move off New Zealand.  “This pushes east where, around about midday, we’re seeing that main rain band lying just over East Cape, so that pushes off over the afternoon,” he said.  “Things will be getting a bit finer for the upper part of the North Island. We do see a few showers but they’re going to be relatively isolated.”  Friday will have a few simil... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:05:59 Z /news/national/ripir%C5%8D-beach-tragedy-tauranga-father-joseph-webster-farewelled/ /news/national/ripir%C5%8D-beach-tragedy-tauranga-father-joseph-webster-farewelled/ Maurice Webster saw just how deeply his son Joseph was loved when about 900 people came together to farewell him.  Joseph Wiremu Webster, 43, of Tauranga, and his cousin Johnathan Brian Webster, 54, of Dargaville, were pulled unresponsive from the water at Ripirō Beach on Kaipara’s west coast by lifeguards on the evening of January 3.  Attempts to revive them were unsuccessful.  The two men had earlier been seen struggling in the surf between Mahuta Gap and Glinks Gully, reportedly after being caught in a rip.  Maurice said the cousins had been out net fishing that day with another relative, who managed to swim safely back to shore.  Maurice said the survivor had told him he was “absolutely buggered” when he made it to the beach, falling over because he had “no energy”.  When he looked back out to sea, he could see Joseph face down in the water. He could not see Johnathan.  The service for Joseph was held in a home he was always “in and out of” - the home of his late grandmother, a woman who Maurice said “really loved him”.  To her, Joseph was a “rough diamond”. To 72-year-old Maurice, his son was a “happy-go-lucky guy” and “good as gold”, with a “great smile”.  ‘Changed his life around’  Joseph “didn’t like being inside” and was “always on the go”.  Maurice, who was newly based in Kawerau, previously lived in Mount Maunganui, where Joseph was raised, attending Omanu School before going on to Ōtūmoetai College.  He said Joseph had some difficult years when he was younger, including being sent to prison “a couple of times”, but was working hard to turn his life around.  Before Joseph’s death, he was studying to become a social worker at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Windermere campus in Tauranga.  Maurice said he once asked Joseph why he wanted to pursue social work. Joseph told him he hated ”seeing kids getting hurt”.  Joseph Webster was a happy-go-lucky guy with a great smile, his father said.  Joseph had four children, aged 22, 16, 11 and 7, and two sisters.  Chelsea Webster, 17, said her brother “really flipped the script” when deciding to become a social worker and was someone who always wanted to help others. She said he had about two years left of his course.  Before his studies, Joseph spent several years driving trucks for freight and furniture-removal companies.  She wanted people to remember him as someone who “changed his life around”. She knew him as someone who was “always” there for her.  Joseph loved kids, she said, and would regularly bring her lollies when she was growing up.  Joseph and Chelsea were “like glue together”, Maurice said.  He said Joseph often visited his cousin Johnathan, who also died in the Northland tragedy.  The men were found unresponsive in the water at Ripirō Beach, pictured.  Maurice described Johnathan as “a bit of a rebel”.  He said Joseph’s love of family was especially clear over the Christmas period.  Just weeks before his death, he cooked a big Christmas dinner for relatives at his grandmother’s home, preparing the meal for everyone to share.  Joseph was a “good cook” and insisted he would do it all.  Maurice said he was someone who never hesitated to lend a hand, whether it was helping him move house, working on cars, or simply showing up when someone needed him.  He “never harmed anybody” and was the kind of person people gravitated toward, Maurice said.  For those who knew him, Joseph was not defined by his mistakes, but by the man he was becoming: a devoted father, a caring son and brother, a loyal cousin, and a young man determined to protect others.  “He was a good boy”, Maurice said.  Police said inquiries into the matter were continuing and the men’s deaths had been referred to the coroner.  Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotoru... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:00:12 Z /news/politics/public-service-boss-s-spotted-at-coffee-meeting-with-andrew-coster/ /news/politics/public-service-boss-s-spotted-at-coffee-meeting-with-andrew-coster/ Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche met former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster at a public cafe overlooking the Beehive yesterday. It comes just a month and a half after Roche said he would have sacked Coster, had he not resigned his role as Social Investment Agency boss himself. The pair met at Mojo Cafe inside Defence House, an office complex directly behind Parliament. The Public Service Commission didn’t address questions on the meeting, describing it only as “a general catch-up”. Questions to Coster went unanswered. 九一星空无限talk ZB understands the pair had agreed last year to have a catch-up in the future. Coster, the former Police Commissioner, resigned from his Social Investment Agency role in December, after the fallout from the Independent Police Conduct Authority report into Jevon McSkimming. The report found the highest-ranking police officers in New Zealand ignored anonymous allegations that former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming was a sexual predator. Instead of investigating the serious allegations against McSkimming, the emails were used by police as evidence to prosecute her under the Harmful Digital Communications Act. Coster was placed on leave shortly after the report was made public, and resigned on December 3. In a statement, Coster said his decision to resign was a result of his “acceptance of full responsibility for the shortcomings identified in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s review of the handling of complaints against  Jevon McSkimming during my tenure as Commissioner of Police”. Speaking to the Herald soon after, Roche said if Coster hadn’t resigned, he would have sacked him.“All options were on the table. If I’d had to [sack him], I would have. I didn’t have to because he made the right professional decision.” “I’m not of the view that he has committed anything personally and the IPCA were very clear that they didn’t find issues of corruption or, in my language, collusion of officers,” Roche said. “But there were a series of events which cumulatively painted a story and he was accountable for that organisation.”Coster received three months salary on his exit. Coster’s base salary was $495,825, meaning three months would be worth just shy of $124,000. Ethan Griffiths is a political reporter with 九一星空无限talk ZB, based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. He joined 九一星空无限 as a print journalist in 2020, previously working as an Open Justice reporter in the Bay of Plenty and Wellington, and as a general reporter in Whanganui. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:00:13 Z /news/wellington/gastro-outbreak-affects-30-staff-at-wellington-hospital-emergency-department/ /news/wellington/gastro-outbreak-affects-30-staff-at-wellington-hospital-emergency-department/ More than two dozen staff are caught up in a gastro outbreak at Wellington Hospital’s emergency department. Health New Zealand has put precautionary measures in place to try to minimise its spread. Dedicated infection control teams are also in place. The first cases were reported last Friday and a 12-hour deep clean was completed the next day. Health NZ said about 30 people have shown symptoms consistent with the stomach illness. It said sick leave is being managed and patient care is continuing as normal. There was no indication of it spreading further through the hospital. – RNZ Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:39:42 Z /news/sport/all-blacks-coaching-ardie-savea-player-revolt-not-behind-scott-robertson-s-exit-nzr-chairman-david-kirk-says/ /news/sport/all-blacks-coaching-ardie-savea-player-revolt-not-behind-scott-robertson-s-exit-nzr-chairman-david-kirk-says/ Scott Robertson’s exit as All Blacks coach was not a consequence of any kind of player revolt, New Zealand Rugby chairman David Kirk asserts. In a bombshell move to begin 2026, Robertson has vacated his position as the All Blacks’ head coach just over halfway through his contract, and less than two years out from the next World Cup hosted by Australia. Robertson brought with him the prospect of recreating the success he had with the Crusaders – eight championships in eight seasons - but the 51-year-old was not able to translate those results into the test arena. In the two years since his appointment, the All Blacks have suffered seven defeats from 27 matches and already seen assistant coaches Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland leave their positions. Following last year’s Northern Tour, Robertson was reviewed poorly by New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) high performance programme and a number of senior players, up to 20 of whom were canvassed at the end of last year. The highest profile of those, the Herald understands, is Ardie Savea. Although Savea was contracted until the end of next year, the Herald understands the 32-year-old was exploring his options to either remain with Japanese club Kobe Steelers – with whom he’s currently on sabbatical – or a European side unless changes were made to the All Blacks coaching group. However, fronting media in the hours after Robertson’s departure was confirmed, Kirk said any speculation Savea led a campaign against his coach is misplaced. Instead, Kirk put Robertson’s exit down to the All Blacks’ trajectory towards the 2027 World Cup “not being on track” and said change has to be made to allow the next coach as much time as possible to get to grips with the role before the tournament. “There was definitely no revolt,” Kirk said. “The players were very measured and thoughtful in their responses. It’s very unfair to say that Ardie somehow led something, not at all. “He expressed public opinions. Some of those opinions were not agreed with by other players. Others would have been somewhat aligned with them. “All of the players are individuals, make their own decisions, and analyse things in ways that are appropriate for them and the team. “It’s a real red herring to think of Ardie having been influential in this decision. He absolutely was not. “[Savea’s] contracted to us until the end of 2027. I would definitely expect to see him in a black jersey.” Depending on the selections of the next All Blacks coach, Savea could also find himself as captain, with Kirk outlining the decision on the side’s leadership rests with Robertson’s replacement. Regardless, the 1987 World Cup-winning halfback outlined that the All Blacks’ class of 2026 will get on with the job at hand, notably building towards four tests away to South Africa and the inaugural Nations Championship, beginning later this year. “We’ve spoken to the leadership group before the announcement,” Kirk said. “Their reaction was, they just absorbed it. “I know this from personal experience: players are players, you get on with it. You want to impress the coach, you want to be seen to be someone seen to be contributing. “I think the players, all players, just get on with whatever environment they’re in.” Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:49:45 Z /news/national/students-can-now-claim-12-000-but-is-it-money-well-spent/ /news/national/students-can-now-claim-12-000-but-is-it-money-well-spent/ By Susan Edmunds of RNZ Eligible students can now apply for funds to help with the cost of their final year of study. But one economist is asking whether it’s the best use of the money. People who are studying for the first time can now access up to $12,000 for their final year of study or final two years of work-based learning. The fees-free scheme changed from funding the first year to the final year from January 1 last year. Payments are only available once the year is complete, so this year marks the first time students have become eligible under the new criteria. Inland Revenue said the final-year fees-free programme was designed to motivate people to complete a qualification or programme. They needed to pay their fees when they enrolled and then apply for the funding once they had completed and passed the qualification. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen pointed to Government analysis of the scheme before the change was introduced, which highlighted it had not achieved many of its objectives. “It wasn’t lifting participation rates or anything like that. It wasn’t helping people who would not have otherwise gone to university,” he said. “It wasn’t helping people in a more disadvantaged position. It was basically just making stuff free, which might have felt good, but it didn’t make a real difference in terms of access or engagement or in completions or anything else. And so I think the challenge there was that you were paying a fair amount to subsidise a group of people to start their university career, where they were probably already going to do that. “The Government did want to focus a bit more on the final year because if you’re not getting any of those wider benefits, if you’re not changing participation or anything else, then it doesn’t make as much sense to fund and pay for university studies that might not be completed. And if you’re funding the last year, you effectively know that you are getting that much higher completion rate.” The regulatory impact statement that examined the change said the main impact of the policy change would be on cost savings for the Government. The total savings for the final-year fees-free policy versus first-year fees being free in the financial years 2023/2024-2027/2028 were estimated at Budget 2024 to be $879 million. Cost savings would decrease over time to $139m on an ongoing basis. Olsen said fees were not the barrier to university, a sentiment echoed by the regulatory impact statement. “Especially because you take on a student loan and you have longer gains that you get over time with high earning potential. “You have people that struggle still, be it fees free or not, to pay their living costs week to week. If they haven’t got the right educational attainment over time or they haven’t got the right supports in place, you can fund them to go to university as much as you want. But if they can’t find somewhere to live, if they can’t pay for themselves while they’re living there, if they don’t have the ability to continue to make it through the programme, none of that matters.” He said there should be a wider conversation about how people could be encouraged and supported into education. “Are you not better to instead of just saying everyone who’s eligible, who’s doing all these various degrees or courses or similar in their last year, they can get it free? Are we not better to make it more targeted if we know there are certain industries and areas where we want to cultivate a range of people, if we know that there are groups or communities that are struggling to get access? “Are we not better to put the money in there rather than saying, you know what, anyone who’s doing a course, yes, if you’re completing it, you can have it free?” Applications can be made through the myIR system. The application needs to be made within a year after completing an eligible qualification. For people who have a student loan, the entitlement goes towards the loan balance. – RNZ Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:37:11 Z /news/national/weather-mini-tornado-hits-%C5%8Drewa-auckland-severe-thunderstorm-warning-issued-for-auckland-region/ /news/national/weather-mini-tornado-hits-%C5%8Drewa-auckland-severe-thunderstorm-warning-issued-for-auckland-region/ A mini tornado has swept across the Auckland suburb of Ōrewa as MetService issues several thunderstorm warnings across the region. Anna Stephenson told the Herald her daughter and friend were outside playing when the wind picked up. “It turned into a whistling sound and started circling towards us,” she said. A tornado swept through the northern Auckland suburb of Ōrewa. Photo / Anna Stephenson “I pulled the girls inside as it was a little freaky! Only minor but very random to have that suddenly happen here.” MetService said it couldn’t confirm a mini tornado had swept across Ōrewa but said the area was seeing large amounts of instability. “It is one of the components that can create tornadoes,” a forecaster told the Herald. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Rodney and Kaipara until 6.37pm. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Rodney and Kaipara regions. “These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the east-south-east, and are expected to lie near Warkworth, Omaha, Leigh and Matakana at 6.07pm and the outer Hauraki Gulf at 6.37pm. “These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain.” A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Waikato, Waipa, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Rotorua and Taupō from 5.22pm to 6.22pm. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Waikato, Waipa, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Rotorua and Taupō from 5.22pm to 6.22pm. Photo / MetService All but Tairāwhiti is under a rain alert, with storms beginning this morning. A dozen warnings and watches are in place from Northland to Wellington. Broadscale heavy rain is forecast to hit Auckland this afternoon and last for more than 12 hours, and rain is falling in Taranaki and the central plateau. The Bay of Plenty, where a heavy rain warning has been issued, is in for 25 hours of wet weather, including thunderstorms and a threat of flooding. The severe thunderstorm watch came into force in Northland at 11am and will last until midnight. Other thunderstorm alerts came into force from 1pm and last until Friday morning. Meanwhile, the Thames-Coromandel District Council has issued a warning to campers, travellers and anyone else in the Coromandel to take care near roads and waterways. The South Taranaki District Council said surface flooding had been reported throughout the district, and it advised motorists to take care. “We’ve got all our crews out clearing drains and putting up signs. “We’ll keep an eye on things and update you via Facebook and Antenno if there’s anything more you need to know from us about today’s weather.” Taranaki Maunga is also under a heavy rain warning until 11pm, with up to 100mm of rain expected to fall and peak rates of up to 40mm/h. A heavy rain warning is in place for Marlborough, north of Ward, until 5pm. Up to 90mm of rain is expected on top of what has already fallen. This could lead to a rapid rise in streams and rivers. Surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions are possible. Heavy rain watches cover much of the top of the South Island, with Marlborough south of Ward and the Kaikōura Coast ending at 6pm, and the one covering Canterbury north of Banks Peninsula in place until 5am tomorrow. The watch covering Nelson and Tasman districts north of Nelson Lakes ended at 1pm. Ferris said the Marlborough Sounds looked like the region where the most persistent and heavy rain would occur during the second half of today. “Those surrounding areas, the rest of Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman and parts of Wellington will see a decent stretch of rain as we move through the day.” Temperatures across the North Island are forecast to remain in the mid-20s today. However, the eastern and southern parts of the South Island are forecast to experience chillier conditions, with Christchurch reaching a high of 17C, and Dunedin, Oamaru and Invercargill reaching a high of 15C, according to Niwa Weather. Delays at Auckland Airport The wild weather has caused delays at Auckland... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:21:00 Z /news/national/northland-sh1-crash-seven-hurt-as-helicopters-airlift-injured-to-hospital/ /news/national/northland-sh1-crash-seven-hurt-as-helicopters-airlift-injured-to-hospital/ Seven people have been injured in a serious crash in Northland. A police spokesperson said they were alerted to the two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, near Ogle Drive, at 4.45pm. At least seven people, from both vehicles, have sustained injuries with three in a serious condition and four in a moderate condition. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said two ambulances, two rapid response units, an operations manager and two helicopters responded to the incident. Police said some of those injured would be airlifted to hospital. Both lanes of the highway are currently blocked and emergency services are working to reopen a lane as soon as possible. Both lanes on SH1 near Ogle Drive are blocked as a result of the crash. photo / Google Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:08:41 Z /news/national/wait%C4%81rere-beach-shooting-sister-says-brother-was-working-on-court-documents-before-death/ /news/national/wait%C4%81rere-beach-shooting-sister-says-brother-was-working-on-court-documents-before-death/ The sister of the man who died during a shooting at a Waitārere Beach home says her brother was working through court documents in the days before his death, and he messaged her half an hour before the incident. He was set to appear in court on the day he died. Stuff has reported he was facing two family violence-related charges. The scene at the home this afternoon was bleak and grey, with family members gathering and neighbours leading horses from the property. The violent incident occurred just after midnight on Tuesday. The Herald understands the man who died was 60-year-old Benjamin Timmins, while the critically injured were a woman, 46, and two young men, aged 17 and 21. Timmins body was removed from the property this afternoon. Police believe an unharmed child, the fifth person found at the property, raised the alarm. Sister’s final days with brother Timmins’ sister Rachael O’Grady told the Herald she first heard of the shooting in an article on Facebook. She earlier described her brother as a “broken man” who was a former soldier and had since turned to farming. Today at the scene, she claimed her brother was working through options for a child he shared with the woman at the property, whom he married in 2015. O’Grady said she had spent this past weekend with her brother, working through court papers and options in Whanganui. “We were drafting up statements for various applications and custody orders, protection orders,” she said. The documents were set to accompany him to court on Wednesday. Benjamin Timmins' sister Rachel O'Grady and other family members hold a karakia at the property on Waitārere Beach Rd. Photo / Mike Scott “He ran the kids to and from school every day. He looked after the property. He looked after the house,” she claimed. “Ben is not an angry man. He is a sad man. He is a broken man,” she said. O’Grady said her brother messaged her half an hour before the incident occurred, and she was not surprised by the way the events unfolded because her brother was at the end of his “psychological rope”. “It’s not just my brother that’s been failed by the whole thing; it’s everybody,” O’Grady said. O’Grady described Timmins as a peacekeeper, frequently saying, “There’s nothing that can’t be solved with a hot cup of tea, a shower, and something to eat”. She said when she saw him recently for his birthday in August, he had lost his “spark” in his eyes. Relatives of Benjamin Timmins gathered today at the property on Waitārere Beach Rd where he was found dead on Wednesday morning. Photo / Mike Scott What happened? Emergency services, including police, rescue helicopters and ambulances, were called to the property about 12.40am on Wednesday, after a 111 call from the settlement north of Levin. The shooting left three people with life-threatening injuries. Timmins was found dead at the Waitārere Beach Rd address and police were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said officers were at the property within eight minutes. Neighbours lead horses off the property on Waitārere Beach Rd today, while police continue to examine the scene. Photo / Mike Scott “Responding officers were told that a firearm had been discharged at the address and, when they arrived, four people were found with wounds that are consistent with being shot,” he said. “The quick response by police likely saved the three victims’ lives. “Our officers were confronted with a harrowing scene that no one should have to witness.” The woman was taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance and the two men flown to Wellington Hospital. She has since been transferred to Wellington Hospital as well and all three remain in a critical condition. “Another young person who was at the address is physically unharmed and they are being given wrap-around support.” Grantham said he expected police to take several days to complete a scene examination of the rural property where the incident to... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:50:51 Z /news/world/man-who-stabbed-stranger-with-smashed-bottle-on-glasgow-train-gets-12-years/ /news/world/man-who-stabbed-stranger-with-smashed-bottle-on-glasgow-train-gets-12-years/ A 48-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after brutally stabbing a stranger on a train with a smashed glass bottle. Thomas Craig was sentenced in the High Court at Glasgow for the February 2024 attack that left victim Glenn Lennon, 23, with a collapsed lung and severed artery. The Sun reported Craig initially attacked Lennon’s friend, Aaron Nelson, 22, after a minor dispute. Footage released by the British Transport Police shows Craig, who had been seated with a female passenger, grabbing a bottle of Buckfast wine before launching himself down the train carriage toward Nelson and Lennon, raising the bottle to strike. Lord Arthurson reminded Craig at the sentencing this week, “Your victims were complete strangers to you”. Craig was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault last month. Thomas Craig will serve 12 years for stabbing Glenn Lennon on a Scotland train in 2024. Photo / British Transport Police “You had, that day, taken alcohol for six hours and also cocaine,” Lord Arthur said. “Footage of the crimes was played to the jury. “In a background report for this case, you described yourself as ‘a monster’ who was unrecognisable to you. “You launched a violently appalling attack, terrifying them and all on board who witnessed what you did.” The court heard Craig struck Nelson over the head with the bottle after a verbal altercation. When Nelson tried to flee further down the carriage, Craig pursued him and struck him a second time, causing the bottle to shatter. The judge also acknowledged the brave support of fellow passengers, including a nurse, who stepped in to help the injured on board, according to The Sun. Lennon then attempted to intervene, but was stabbed in the chest with the neck of the bottle, causing him to lose 40% of his blood. Footage later showed Craig walking back up the carriage and changing into a clean hoodie to replace the bloodied one. Police and paramedic officers attended at Larbert station where Craig was arrested and the victims were transported to hospital. Nelson and Lennon both testified that the attack left them scarred for life. “There are essentially two Thomas Craigs,” defence lawyer Tony Graham, KC, told the court. “One who behaves in an inappropriate and criminal way and one who is a contributor to those around him. “He is a man who has seen his face on CCTV. He is a man who has seen what he has done.” Graham said Craig “struggled to understand” his behaviour but accepted it would continue to “haunt” Nelson and Lennon, The Sun reported. Craig will be subject to supervision conditions for three years following his release. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:21:09 Z /news/national/all-blacks-the-scott-robertson-era-how-razor-lost-his-edge/ /news/national/all-blacks-the-scott-robertson-era-how-razor-lost-his-edge/ Scott Robertson’s two-year tenure as All Blacks coach ended abruptly today after New Zealand Rugby announced his departure. Here are the highs and lows of the Razor era. Razor’s ‘reset’ March 21, 2023: Robertson was named All Blacks coach starting from the 2024 season, appointed for four years through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The decision meant incumbent Ian Foster continued to lead the All Blacks through the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where they were beaten in the final by South Africa. It marked the end of a charged debate about Foster and just who was the right leader for the men in black. “Robertson is being brought in with a mandate to reset an All Blacks side in every way: personnel, attitudes, culture and interaction,” the Herald’s Gregor Paul wrote at the time. An awkward start April 26, 2023: Robertson revealed his coaching staff, with All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan joined by Leon MacDonald, Jason Holland and Scott Hansen, more than a full year before the team’s first test. It meant awkward ramifications among the All Blacks set-up at the time, with assistants Scott McLeod (defence) and Greg Feek (scrum) on the outer as part of a widespread cleanout. O Captain! My Captain! June 25, 2024: Robertson named his first squad, including the call to make Scott Barrett his captain. The Crusaders skipper was the preferred choice over Ardie Savea, the reigning World Rugby player of the year. “He’s got a really good feel for the game to make the right calls at the right time. He’s won a lot of big games and big moments,” Robertson said of Barrett. ”He’s always risen to the occasion with the All Blacks, and I know he’ll do it as a captain too." The biggest talking point was the omission of Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, despite a standout Super Rugby Pacific season. A scare to start July 6, 2024: Robertson’s first test in charge started with England giving the All Blacks an almighty scare under the Dunedin roof as the home side held on for a 16-15 win. A week later, the All Blacks needed a comeback win to deny England at Eden Park. Gregor Paul described it as a nervy start to the Robertson era, where the All Blacks were sucked into England’s trap. First defeat August 10, 2024: Fourth test in charge and first defeat for Robertson as Argentina recorded their highest total against the All Blacks in a 38-30 win in Wellington. The All Blacks bounced back against the Pumas a week later, winning 42-10. “It’s a close-run thing in trying to determine whether the biggest failure in Wellington last Saturday was the All Blacks losing to Argentina or New Zealand Rugby (NZR) not selling out the stadium,” Paul wrote at the time. Exit MacDonald August 22, 2024: Ahead of two Rugby Championship tests in South Africa, assistant coach Leon MacDonald left his post in the All Blacks coaching group. After several weeks of discussions between Robertson and MacDonald on their working approach, NZR confirmed the pair had mutually agreed to part ways and that MacDonald would not be replaced. Assistant coach Scott Hansen and contact skills coach Tamati Ellison took on additional responsibilities for the remainder of the season. Contract conundrum: The legal implications of MacDonald’s exit Bashed by the Boks September 1, 2024: In Robertson’s first clash against the Springboks, the All Blacks coughed up a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to play, conceding two late tries to fall 31-27 in Johannesburg. A week later, the Springboks recorded their fourth win in succession against their great foes, for the first time in 75 years. For the first time in 15 years, the All Blacks handed the Freedom Cup over to South Africa. Ireland streak snapped November 9, 2024: A week after beating England for a fourth time in the year, Robertson’s men stunned Ireland and snapped their 19-test undefeated home streak. It was New Zealand’s first win in Dublin in eight years. Fourth loss of the year November 17, 2024: An unbeaten northern tour was within reach, but... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:12:03 Z /news/national/m%C4%81ori-journalist-and-playwright-aroha-awarau-dies-aged-49/ /news/national/m%C4%81ori-journalist-and-playwright-aroha-awarau-dies-aged-49/ Respected journalist and talented playwright, Aroha Awarau, has died after a short battle with cancer. The 49-year-old’s death has been confirmed and announced by close friends on social media, saying he “slipped away peacefully” at a hospice facility surrounded by care and love. “True to the way he lived, Aroha met this final moment with grace, courage, and his unmistakable spirit. “Cancer shortened the timeline, but it never diminished the person he is. The sharp mind. The sharper tongue,” a post read. “The flamboyance. The creativity. The generosity of friendship. He lived fully. He loved deeply.” Born in 1976 in Hāwera, Taranaki, Awarau was of Ngāti Maru, Taranaki whānui and Niuean descent. Talented storyteller He began his career in journalism, working for TVNZ, Māori Television and various print publications including the NZ Herald, Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Day. He was recognised for reporting that highlighted Māori perspectives and current affairs, and his work often aimed to create space for Indigenous voices in mainstream media. Writer and playwright Aroha Awarau pictured in September, 2015. Photo / Jason Oxenham Awarau was an accomplished playwright whose work received national and international recognition. His debut play, Luncheon, starring Jennifer Ward-Lealand and directed by Katie Wolfe, won Best Play at the 2014 New Zealand Script Writing Awards. His second play, Officer 27, was a finalist at both the NZ Adam Playwriting Awards and the New Zealand Script Writing Awards in 2016. His short film Home later premiered at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto. His most recent work, the short film Puti, tells the story of a Māori girl navigating hardship and sacrifice for her whānau. The film was a finalist at the 2025 Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival and screened at the Indigenous and international film festivals, including Māoriland and the Beverly Hills Film Festival. Beyond his own creative work, Awarau mentored emerging writers and advocated for greater Māori representation in the arts and media. Over more than two decades, he built a career that spanned journalism, theatre and film that consistently centered on Māori voices and stories. Details for Awarau’s funeral are yet to be released. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:46:49 Z /news/national/corsair-bay-swimming-warning-lifted-after-septic-tank-overflow-cleared/ /news/national/corsair-bay-swimming-warning-lifted-after-septic-tank-overflow-cleared/ Health warnings have been lifted at a popular Christchurch swimming spot after a septic tank overflow, caused by bottles being flushed down toilets. Corsair Bay, near Lyttelton, was abruptly closed on Saturday after beachgoers reported a strong and unpleasant smell, prompting fears of a sewer leak and potential health risks. Health New Zealand issued a public health warning after being notified of “a discharge of untreated sewage into Motu-kauati-iti Corsair Bay”. However, the latest water testing showed faecal bacteria levels were now “below guideline values”, allowing the warning to be lifted and the water deemed safe for recreational use. “This is great news for swimmers and other recreational water users who would have been avoiding the water following the high levels of contamination,” said Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service. Christchurch City Council said investigations revealed issues with the site’s septic tank system after bottles were flushed down toilets, along with a malfunctioning outdoor shower that discharged clean water down a nearby pathway. “Investigations identified a blockage in the septic system caused by items such as bottles, which led to an overflow into a small holding tank,” the council said. “Concurrently, a fault in the outdoor shower resulted in clean water being discharged down the pathway. The effect of any combined runoff into the bay on water quality is inconclusive.” Corsair Bay, near Lyttelton. One would-be swimmer told the Herald they noticed an “ungodly, heavy smell” as soon as they opened their car door on arrival at Corsair Bay on Saturday. Video footage shows a small stream of water flowing down a path towards the beach from a leak near a toilet block, where a puddle can be seen bubbling. “Other people were commenting on the smell,” the witness said, adding that it “had me retching”. The council said it has been working with Environment Canterbury (ECan) to carry out appropriate water quality testing. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:19:18 Z /news/national/serious-two-car-crash-shuts-state-highway-6-in-southland-detours-in-place/ /news/national/serious-two-car-crash-shuts-state-highway-6-in-southland-detours-in-place/ A serious crash has closed a section of a major Southland highway, as significant traffic congestion starts to build. Police said State Highway 6/Great North Rd was closed near Eglinton St in Winton, about 30km north of Invercargill. The two-vehicle crash was first reported to police just after 3pm. Police said initial indications suggested the people involved had suffered serious injuries. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. Police said detours were in place. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:12:51 Z /news/world/musk-s-grok-barred-from-undressing-images-after-global-backlash/ /news/world/musk-s-grok-barred-from-undressing-images-after-global-backlash/ Elon Musk’s platform X today announced measures to prevent its AI chatbot Grok from undressing images of real people, following a global backlash over its generation of sexualised photos of women and children. The announcement comes after California’s attorney-general launched an investigation into Musk’s xAI - the developer of Grok - over the sexually explicit material and multiple countries either blocked access to the chatbot or launched their own probes. X said it will “geoblock the ability” of all Grok and X users to create images of people in “bikinis, underwear, and similar attire” in those jurisdictions where such actions are deemed illegal. “We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis,” X’s safety team said in a statement. “This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers.” In an “extra layer of protection”, image creation and the ability to edit photos via X’s Grok account was now only available to paid subscribers, the statement added. The European Commission, which acts as the European Union’s digital watchdog, said earlier that it had taken note of “additional measures X is taking to ban Grok from generating sexualised images of women and children”. “We will carefully assess these changes to make sure they effectively protect citizens in the EU,” European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in a statement, which followed sharp criticism over the nonconsensual undressed images. ‘Shocking’ Global pressure had been building on xAI to rein in Grok after its so-called “Spicy Mode” feature allowed users to create sexualised deepfakes of women and children using simple text prompts such as “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes”. “The avalanche of reports detailing the non-consensual, sexually explicit material that xAI has produced and posted online in recent weeks is shocking,” California Attorney-General Rob Bonta said earlier today. “We have zero tolerance for the AI-based creation and dissemination of nonconsensual intimate images or of child sexual abuse material.” Bonta said the California investigation would determine whether xAI violated state law after the explicit imagery was “used to harass people across the internet”. Indonesia on Saturday became the first country to block access to Grok entirely, with neighbouring Malaysia following on Sunday. India said on Sunday that X had removed thousands of posts and hundreds of user accounts in response to its complaints. Britain’s Ofcom media regulator said on Monday that it was opening a probe into whether X failed to comply with UK law over the sexual images. And France’s commissioner for children Sarah El Hairy said on Tuesday she had referred Grok’s generated images to French prosecutors, the Arcom media regulator and the EU. Last week, an analysis of more than 20,000 Grok-generated images by Paris non-profit AI Forensics found that more than half depicted “individuals in minimal attire” - most of them women, and 2% appearing to be minors. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:08:13 Z /news/national/hot-summer-lifts-splash-planet-revenue-by-150k-despite-fewer-open-days/ /news/national/hot-summer-lifts-splash-planet-revenue-by-150k-despite-fewer-open-days/ Hastings District Council aquatics manager Tom Page is hoping the sun keeps on shining as visitors flock to Splash Planet to cool down. So far this season, 53,000 people have visited the water park, 5000 more than during the same period last season. Despite operating for 13 fewer days this season because of an initial weekends-only opening, revenue has increased by about $150,000 (ex GST). Page said it’s been great to have some consistent good weather. “We are seeing good numbers through the doors without getting to capacity, which is better for customer experience,” Page said. “The refurbished area of the park around Tiny Town and Wonderland Mini-golf is being well-received, and we are seeing more people using those areas throughout the day. “Kids love playing on the splash pad in Tiny Town, exploring the buildings and the new musical trees and car. “The train was also another popular feature of the park because it is an experience that can be shared with the whole family. “We hope the good weather continues for those planning their visits later in the season.” Last season brought far less sunshine, with Hawke’s Bay facing a wet, cold summer and even rare snowfall on the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges on January 5. The prolonged poor weather led councillors to close Splash Planet 14 days earlier than scheduled. At the end of January 2025, visitor numbers to the water park were down more than 15,000 on the previous season and revenue fell by $558,000. The council said at the time that effective operations management at Splash Planet cut costs by $232,000, reducing the loss to $326,000. Pool visitor numbers Havelock North Village pools have had 10,000 people through the doors so far this season, up 4000 on the same period last year. This doesn’t include user groups. Visitor numbers at Clive are the same as the last financial year to date, with 12,000 visitors for both periods, while Flaxmere is down 2800, with 5000 visitors so far this season compared with 7800 a year ago. A council spokesperson said this was mainly attributed to a maintenance closure last year. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:33:33 Z /news/sport/black-caps-v-india-overlooked-daryl-mitchell-shines-to-give-new-zealand-a-chance-at-history/ /news/sport/black-caps-v-india-overlooked-daryl-mitchell-shines-to-give-new-zealand-a-chance-at-history/ As Daryl Mitchell sat down to front India’s media, having just anchored the Black Caps’ seven-wicket victory in Rajkot, the first set of questions put to him pinpointed exactly how underrated New Zealand’s No 4 is. “Do you have any comments on KL Rahul’s innings?” While Mitchell had walked off with an unbeaten 131 runs in New Zealand’s 286-3, Indian wicketkeeper Rahul had made 112 not out in defeat. Walking to the wicket at 99-2, Mitchell adeptly handled India’s spinners to reach 50 in just 52 balls, and needed another 44 to turn that into triple figures. Considering the Black Caps have never won a One-Day International (ODI) series in India, victory in Rajkot puts them within touching distance of history, heading to Indore on Sunday. The three-match series is now 1-1 after New Zealand lost the first game. And yet, as Mitchell’s press conference quickly showed, the focus continues to revolve around India, given the huge audience their team brings to the sport. It’s symptomatic not just of cricket’s commercial interests, but of how Mitchell has slipped under the radar as an all-format player. This was his eighth ODI century, in just 58 matches - all batting in the middle order. Of those eight, three have come against India, in foreign conditions. Now with a stranglehold of the No 4 spot vacated by Ross Taylor – arguably New Zealand’s greatest ODI batter – Mitchell’s average of 56.73 runs per innings is a marked improvement on his predecessor. Despite that, the 34-year-old’s place as one of the game’s modern white-ball titans seems to be consistently overlooked. At last month’s Indian Premier League auction, Mitchell was ignored at a base price of roughly NZ$386,000. At the same time, Australia’s Cameron Green and England’s Liam Livingstone, both with inferior all-format records to Mitchell, sold for $4.78 million and $2.5m respectively. Mitchell, though, doesn’t play for money. After being forced to wait until his late 20s to play for the Black Caps, he knows where his priorities lie. “I just love playing for my country,” he said after the match. “I love travelling the world and playing international cricket. New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates after scoring a century during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, western India. Photo / AFP “I’m very lucky to do that across all three formats. My job is to help us win games of cricket, and luckily I was able to do that tonight.” The Rajkot victory was by no means a one-man performance, though. Mitchell combined in stands of 162 with Will Young (87) and an unbroken 78 from 58 balls with Glenn Phillips (32 not out). Young’s efforts in particular should give the Black Caps reason to smile. The 33-year-old was one of just two players to take part in every ODI New Zealand played in 2025, along with stand-in captain Michael Bracewell. In those 18 matches, though, he managed just 320 runs at an average of less than 19. Tellingly, of those runs, 107 came in one innings against Pakistan. Batting in a No 3 spot that has long been Kane Williamson’s by right, Young’s display in Rajkot will be a significant weight off his shoulders. Mitchell understood exactly how important Young’s contribution was. “I love batting with Youngy,” he said. “We’ve done it several times now. “We have some good fun while we’re out there, but we also get in the contest and get pretty competitive with the opposition. “The way Youngy played today was brilliant. He soaked up the new ball, which looked challenging. He was able to find ways to keep rotating [the strike] and getting the odd boundary here and there. “It was seriously good fun batting with him, and nice to get the job done.” Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:16:40 Z /news/world/astronauts-leave-iss-in-first-ever-medical-evacuation-and-are-due-to-splash-down-off-california-tonight/ /news/world/astronauts-leave-iss-in-first-ever-medical-evacuation-and-are-due-to-splash-down-off-california-tonight/ Four crewmembers departed the International Space Station today after a medical issue prompted their mission to be cut a month short - a first for the orbiting laboratory. A video feed from Nasa showed American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui undocking from the ISS at 11.20am NZT, after five months in space. Nasa has declined to disclose which crewmember has the health problem or give details about the issue, but the United States space agency has stressed the return is not an emergency situation, saying the person’s condition was stable. The four are scheduled to splash down off the California coast at around 9.40pm aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. “First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for,” Fincke, the pilot of SpaceX Crew-11, said in a social media post. “This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists. It’s the right call, even if it’s a bit bittersweet.” James Polk, Nasa’s chief health and medical officer, said “lingering risk” and a “lingering question as to what that diagnosis is” led to the decision to bring back the crew earlier than originally scheduled. The four members of Crew-11 arrived at the ISS in early August and had been scheduled to stay onboard the space station until they were rotated out in mid-February with the arrival of the next crew. American astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, who arrived at the station in November aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, will remain on the ISS. The Russian Roscosmos space agency operates alongside Nasa on the space station, and the two agencies take turns transporting a citizen of the other country to and from the orbiter - one of the few areas of bilateral co-operation that still endure between the US and Russia. Ready for the unexpected Continuously inhabited since 2000, the International Space Station seeks to showcase multinational co-operation, bringing together Europe, Japan, the US, and Russia. Located some 400km above Earth, the ISS functions as a testbed for research that supports deeper space exploration - including eventual missions to return humans to the Moon and onward to Mars. The four astronauts being evacuated had been trained to handle unexpected medical situations, said Amit Kshatriya, a senior Nasa official, praising how they have dealt with the situation. The ISS is set to be decommissioned after 2030, with its orbit gradually lowered until it breaks up in the atmosphere over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean called Point Nemo, a spacecraft graveyard. -Agence France-Presse Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:52:05 Z /news/national/chen-you-named-as-diver-who-drowned-while-collecting-seafood-at-akaroa/ /news/national/chen-you-named-as-diver-who-drowned-while-collecting-seafood-at-akaroa/ The man who drowned at a popular Canterbury tourist spot was diving to collect seafood when he went out of sight for around an hour. He was 43-year-old Chen You, from Halswell in Christchurch. Police were alerted about 1.15pm on Saturday after a person was pulled from the water by the harbourmaster at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula. A witness at the scene said it was immediately clear the situation was serious. “We heard sirens from quite a distance away from shore, and the person was already on board the boat,” she said. “They were lying flat and receiving CPR.” She said people ran along the pier as emergency services arrived within seconds and took over resuscitation efforts. Despite CPR being administered, the person could not be revived, a police spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with Chen’s family and friends at this time.” The death has been referred to the coroner. It comes after a spate of water-related deaths across the country. Cousins Johnathan Brian Webster, 54, of Dargaville, and Joseph Wiremu Webster, 43, of Tauranga, died after they were pulled unresponsive from the water at Ripirō Beach on Kaipara’s west coast on the evening of January 3. The two men were seen struggling in the surf between Mahuta Gap and Glinks Gully. One-year-old Laylah-Mae Thompson died five days after falling into a pool at her home in Wairarapa. Teananga Tiotia, 25, of Hamilton, died after he went missing in the Waikato River for nearly three days. Police were called to the river near Graham Island on Saturday after a report of a “struggling swimmer” being swept downstream. His body was recovered on Tuesday, with the family notified. Akaroa Wharf's Drummond pontoon. Photo / Christchurch City Council Water safety advice Earlier, Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Glen Scanlon urged people to keep in mind the key messages around water safety at this busy time. “What we tend to see is so often those hot, calm days when people find themselves unexpectedly in more trouble because the conditions look so good,” Scanlon said. He advised Kiwis to never swim or dive alone in any of New Zealand’s water environments. “If you’re at a patrolled beach, please swim between the flags. Take advantage of the great surf lifesavers and the job they do to keep you safe. “Please, if you’re fishing from land or from a boat as well, wear a lifejacket. It’s going to keep you really super safe. “If you’ve got your kids, always stay close to them,” Scanlon said. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:42:08 Z /news/national/after-a-four-year-hiatus-conservationists-are-relieved-that-the-k%C4%81k%C4%81po-is-once-again-breeding/ /news/national/after-a-four-year-hiatus-conservationists-are-relieved-that-the-k%C4%81k%C4%81po-is-once-again-breeding/ Deep in the New Zealand forest, the booming thud of the kākāpō’s ancient mating ritual sounds more like a bass speaker than birdsong. What’s more, it risks falling silent forever. This sound comes from no ordinary green bird. The astonishingly rare kākāpō is the world’s heftiest parrot, weighing up to 3.6kg and living for as long as 90 years despite being flightless and almost blind. With a population of just 236 across New Zealand, efforts to rebuild their numbers by physically shielding them from predators have been painstakingly slow and hindered by an obscure breeding schedule. The parrot only mates every few years when the native rimu tree undergoes a mass fruiting event, which last took place in 2022. Kenneth the kākāpō, pictured in 2019. Photo / Jake Osborne, New Zealand Department of Conservation So conservationists were relieved this year to observe a bumper crop of the tree’s berrylike fruit, a crucial source of calcium and vitamin D. The mass fruiting has lent kākāpōs a much-needed lifeline, leading – officials hope – to a prodigious mating season that could help stave off the risk of extinction. Andrew Digby, a biologist at New Zealand’s Department of Conservation who has studied kākāpōs for over a decade, said a feast of rimu fruit is spurring a flurry of breeding activity. The crop has been so plentiful that he anticipates over 50 new chicks to hatch, marking the species’ most prolific mating season on record. “Technically, it’s a bird,” Digby said in a phone interview, likening their appearance to a lump of slow-moving moss with the face of a wizened old man. “But really, they’re more like the bird version of a badger.” When not waddling around the forest floor, these ancient creatures can climb up to 30m into the tree canopy to fetch fruit. Mother kākāpō Alice and chick Rupi. Photo / Jake Osborne, New Zealand Department of Conservation Kākāpōs’ predecessors branched off from other bird species some 30 million years ago, lending them many of the distinctive features that only a creature native to New Zealand could achieve. Without the presence of mammalian predators, the birds gained weight and gradually lost their ability to fly as they roamed blissfully for millennia. When waves of human settlement arrived in New Zealand accompanied by non-native animals, the kākāpō’s vulnerabilities were exposed: the parrot had evolved neither the ability to fight a threat or fly away from it. At one point in the 1970s, officials couldn’t locate even a single bird. Thankfully, conservation efforts have proved somewhat successful, because the unique sight of a bobbing kākāpō is one to behold. If it seems familiar, that’s because the parrot is also internet-famous. A 2009 clip of a frisky male gyrating on the head of a BBC nature documentary presenter – an ill-fated attempt to mate – is credited with inspiring the party parrot emoji. Sirocco became such a star that the bird was named “Official Spokesbird for Conservation” by New Zealand’s then-Prime Minister John Key. Andrew Digby, a biologist at New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, handles a kākāpō chick in 2022, during the previous mating season. Photo / Deidre Vercoe, New Zealand Department of Conservation Conservationists keep track of kākāpōs using a fleet of tiny transmitters that track their health, nesting status and even who they’ve mated with, likened by Digby to fitness trackers. In December, a flurry of activity indicated that the long-awaited breeding season had started. And their mating rituals are peculiar. Kākāpōs are the only “lek-breeding” parrot in the world, meaning the males gather in a communal area to parade in front of females. “It’s pretty much a singing competition,” Digby said. Ahead of the ritual concert, males spend months preparing networks of cleared paths that help resonate their signature boom and “chinging” calls across wide areas. When they’re ready to attract a female, the males position themselves in holes they cleared in the gr... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:39:12 Z /news/national/tauranga-s-mike-siermans-named-federated-farmers-chief-executive-after-interim-role/ /news/national/tauranga-s-mike-siermans-named-federated-farmers-chief-executive-after-interim-role/ Federated Farmers has appointed Mike Siermans as its new chief executive. Siermans has been the organisation’s interim chief executive since September last year, following Terry Copeland’s departure after serving in the role for seven years. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said Siermans brought extensive senior leadership and commercial experience that set him apart from other candidates. “This is a significant appointment for Federated Farmers,” Langford said. “We conducted a significant search for the right person, with many strong candidates having the experience and qualities we are looking for in a CEO.” Langford said he’d worked closely with Siermans over the past few months and was confident he was the right leader to help Federated Farmers deliver its strategy for membership growth. “Mike’s experience in sales, marketing and corporate management will be a huge asset for our organisation. “He understands that strong advocacy needs to be backed by sharp commercial nous.” Langford said he was looking forward to working with Siermans and his team to make sure Federated Farmers was a well-oiled, modern machine set up to deliver outcomes for farmers. “Federated Farmers is sitting in a really strong position,” he said. “The organisation’s results speak for themselves, with clear messaging, a long list of major policy wins, and a membership base growing for the first time in a generation. “It’s now Mike’s job to pick that up and continue to build on that platform.” Before joining Federated Farmers, Siermans built a commercial career across fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and technology. He held senior sales and marketing roles at Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Animal Health and, most recently, at Taura Natural Ingredients. Siermans saw his broad commercial experience as central to his role at Federated Farmers. “Federated Farmers is a very special organisation that’s played a major role in New Zealand’s history over the last 125 years,” Siermans said. “My job as CEO is to make sure we’ve got the right strategy, team and culture that’s going to set us up to succeed for the next 125 years.” Listen to Hamish McKay interview Mike Siermans on The Country below: Siermans said this meant continuing to modernise the organisation, with a focus on creating sustainable revenue streams and finding new ways to grow its products and services. “I want to make sure Federated Farmers has the resources to keep employing the best advocates, communicators and policy experts, so we can deliver real results for Kiwi farmers. “Federated Farmers has always been the true voice of farming in New Zealand and I want to play a role in helping make that voice even stronger.” Siermans and his wife live in Tauranga and they have three adult children. – Supplied by Federated Farmers Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:35:09 Z /news/national/manage-my-health-ignored-warning-about-lax-security-system-cyber-security-expert/ /news/national/manage-my-health-ignored-warning-about-lax-security-system-cyber-security-expert/ By Ruth Hill of RNZ IT experts allege Manage My Health ignored warnings about vulnerabilities in its cyber security for years – but the regulatory vacuum meant the company was not required to take action. About 127,000 New Zealanders have had their information stolen in the ransomware attack after hackers were apparently able to obtain a password giving them access to part of its database containing more than 430,000 documents. University of Auckland cyber security expert Dr Abhinav Chopra said he discovered the holes in Manage My Health’s system two years ago when he was trying to find out why it was still holding on to his health records after his GP moved to a new provider. In an email to his GP, Manage My Health and eventually the Privacy Commission, he listed all the problems, including the lack of multi-factor authentication and the fact that multiple administrators had access to unencrypted files. “This is the same pattern. They should have invested. They’ve had two years and these are the exact same areas that have caused them the issue.” The company did not respond to him, he said. Manage My Health has said it is required to hold on to patients’ data – even if their GP switches provider – unless patients deregister themselves. However, Chopra believes Manage My Health could have another reason for holding on to patient records. Its own website proudly notes its database of “1.8 million Kiwis” and its ability to get its customers’ message to them “when they’re thinking about their health”. “If this company did not have any commercial gains to make out of this data, then they would not be paying the extra storage costs for this data,” Chopra said. Terms and conditions gave company an ‘out’ A Wellington IT worker caught up in the Manage My Health data breach – whom RNZ has agreed not to name – also questioned the lack of regulatory checks and balances. “Health services that have this information and these functions should be subject to the same scrutiny and compliance requirements and auditing as financial institutions. “If your banking app is down, it’s a huge deal and it gets lots of scrutiny.” However, Manage My Health’s users could not say they were not warned, she said. “The irony is that I actually read their terms and conditions, and they haven’t breached them because their entire terms of usage is they can’t guarantee their system is any good or that they’ll fix it, even if it’s foreseeable and they know about it. “It’s essentially, ‘We can’t guarantee our product doesn’t suck, but here, give it a go’.” Digital specialist Callum McMenamin (who also alerted Manage My Health to its security vulnerabilities six months ago) said the 300-page Health Information Security Framework contained many good things – but entirely relied on “hand-wavy” self-regulation. “It’s all just a high-trust system where the Government sets the standards but then closes its eyes and doesn’t check if the standards are actually being met.” Industry has opposed regulation - commentator According to political analyst Bryce Edwards from The Democracy Project, the lack of regulatory oversight was “not an accident”. The Digital Health Association – the industry body for health software vendors – had lobbied against what it called “overly burdensome privacy laws and regulation”, he said. “They have time and time again asked government to keep the rules on privacy quite weak and relaxed so the companies that deal with data are not subject to too much of what they call ‘red tape’ or essentially costs on them.” Successive governments had ignored warnings from three Privacy Commissioners over the last 15 years of the need for stronger penalties, like in Australia, where errant companies faced multimillion-dollar fines, Edwards said. The Digital Health Association pushed for the repeal of the Therapeutic Product Act, which would’ve regulated software as a medical device with surveillance and penalties for non-compliance, he continued. “If... Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:12:17 Z /news/world/japan-s-prime-minister-to-dissolve-parliament-for-snap-election/ /news/world/japan-s-prime-minister-to-dissolve-parliament-for-snap-election/ Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi intends to dissolve the lower house for a snap election soon after a parliamentary session begins next week, her ruling party and a coalition partner have said.  Takaichi was appointed Japan’s first woman Prime Minister in October and her Cabinet is enjoying an approval rating of around 70%.  But her ruling bloc only has a slim majority in the powerful lower house of Parliament, hindering its ability to push through her ambitious policy agenda.  “I was notified by Prime Minister Takaichi that she will dissolve” the lower house “at an early stage of the ordinary parliamentary session”, Hirofumi Yoshimura, one of the leaders of the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), told reporters.  Yoshimura added that Takaichi told him she planned to hold a news conference next week to explain more about her decision.  The Tokyo stock market closed 1.5% higher and the yen slumped to its lowest value since mid-2024 on media reports that the election could take place as soon as February 8.  The Prime Minister also conveyed her intention to dissolve the chamber to Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he said.  Suzuki told reporters in Tokyo that the election would in part be about seeking a public mandate on the current LDP-JIP partnership, which materialised only recently after the ruling party’s former partner exited the coalition.  The junior Komeito party ended its 26-year relationship with the LDP last year, citing the LDP’s failure to tighten party funding rules following a damaging slush fund scandal.  It was also unnerved by Takaichi’s previous harsh rhetoric on China and her regular visits to a Tokyo shrine that honours Japan’s war dead, including war criminals.  Budget bill  If Takaichi dissolves the lower house on January 23, which is the start of a regular Parliament session, the most likely election date would be February 8, various media reported.  By keeping short the period between Parliament dissolution and a general election, Takaichi hopes to curb the election’s impact on parliamentary debate over the Budget Bill for the upcoming fiscal year, the Yomiuri newspaper said.  Takaichi’s Cabinet approved a record ¥122.3 trillion ($1.3t) budget for the fiscal year from April 2026, and she has vowed to get parliamentary approval as soon as possible to address inflation and shore up the world’s fourth-largest economy.  Takaichi became Japan’s fifth premier in as many years when she was elected, initially as the head of a minority government.  Her LDP and the JIP regained their lower-house majority in November after three lawmakers joined the LDP.  The ruling bloc remains a minority in the upper house.  Takaichi reportedly hopes a bigger majority will help her implement her agenda of more “proactive” fiscal spending, and may also help her break the deadlock in a spat with China.  Ties have deteriorated since Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if China ever launched an attack on Taiwan, the self-ruled island it claims.  - Tomohiro Osaki and Kyoko Hasegawa, Agence France-Presse  Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:48:19 Z /news/sport/netball-new-zealand-announces-jane-patterson-as-interim-chief-executive-chelsea-lane-as-head-of-high-performance/ /news/sport/netball-new-zealand-announces-jane-patterson-as-interim-chief-executive-chelsea-lane-as-head-of-high-performance/ Netball New Zealand has confirmed two new appointments to its leadership team, in the wake of Jennie Wylie’s departure as chief executive at the end of 2025.  As the national body searches for a new chief executive, Jane Patterson will step into the role on an interim basis, beginning on January 19.  Netball NZ’s chief commercial officer David Cooper had been acting as chief executive since Wyllie’s exit.  Patterson is experienced in leading a sporting body on an interim basis, having recently completed a similar assignment with Badminton New Zealand at the end of last year.  Prior to that, Patterson had also worked as New Zealand’s chief operating officer for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, as well as executive roles with Ironman Asia Pacific, and as chief executive for the 2007 Netball World Cup.  “Since first playing netball at the age of 7, I’ve carried a deep respect for the game and its proud place in New Zealand sport,” she said.  “Stepping into this role comes with a real sense of responsibility, and I’m committed to working alongside our staff, the board and the wider community to ensure the organisation remains strong, united and focused for the future.  “My immediate focus as interim CEO is to provide stability, clarity and support across the organisation. This is a time to listen, to connect with our staff and communities nationwide, and to ensure netball is well positioned for the future – both on and off the court.”  In recognition of her contribution to sports administration, Jane was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2016, and later an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2023.  Elsewhere, Chelsea Lane has also joined Netball NZ as the head of high performance for the Silver Ferns, in support of the returning Dame Noeline Taurua.  Lane boasts an impressive high-performance CV, with NBA outfits the Atlanta Hawks, and recently with the all-conquering Golden State Warriors. More recently, Lane has also been part of New Zealand Cricket’s high-performance programme, as well as with Basketball New Zealand.  “Chelsea’s proven ability to align performance, people and culture will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Silver Ferns programme,” said Dame Noeline.  “I’m looking forward to working closely with her as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”  Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:34:46 Z /news/world/trump-talks-great-conversation-with-venezuela-s-new-leader-delcy-rodriguez/ /news/world/trump-talks-great-conversation-with-venezuela-s-new-leader-delcy-rodriguez/ US President Donald Trump says he had held a “long call” with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez, the first known contact between the two leaders since the ouster of Nicolas Maduro.  “We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.  He later said on social media that he and Rodriguez had discussed “many topics”, including oil, minerals, trade and national security.  “We are making tremendous progress,” Trump said.  After Maduro’s capture in a deadly US special forces operation on January 3, Trump said he was content to let his former deputy Rodriguez take over – as long as she gave the United States access to Venezuelan oil.  He has suggested the United States could maintain oversight of the Caribbean country for years.  Rodriguez has been walking a diplomatic tightrope, trying to meet Trump’s demands without alienating Maduro loyalists, who control Venezuela’s security forces and feared paramilitaries.  Writing on Telegram, she described her call with the US leader as “productive and courteous” and characterised by “mutual respect”.  ‘New political era’  The 56-year-old added that she and Trump, 79, had discussed a “bilateral work agenda for the benefit of our people, as well as outstanding issues in relations between our governments”.  Earlier, she said at her first press conference as interim president that Venezuela was entering a “new political era” marked by greater tolerance for “ideological and political diversity”.  Under pressure from Washington, Venezuela has released dozens of political prisoners in the past week, but kept hundreds still behind bars.  Rodriguez claimed a total of 406 political prisoners had been released since December in a process that “has not yet concluded”.  The Foro Penal legal rights NGO, which defends many of the detainees, gave a much smaller tally of around 180 freed.  AFP’s count, based on data from NGOs and opposition parties, showed 70 people released since the fall of Maduro, who was taken to the United States to face trial for alleged drug trafficking.  Trump has so far sidelined opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from Venezuela’s post-Maduro transition, claiming the Nobel Peace Prize laureate does not have enough “respect” in the country.  Machado, who is currently residing outside Venezuela, will meet Trump on Thursday (Friday NZT) at the White House to press her demands for the opposition to be given a pre-eminent role.  Released out of view  The trickle of prisoner releases continued on Wednesday, with the release of 17 journalists and media workers.  Roland Carreno, a journalist and prominent opposition activist, who was detained in August 2024 during post-election protests, was part of the group.  A leading member of the Popular Will party, he was previously imprisoned between 2020 and 2023 on charges of terrorism – a charge frequently used to lock up opposition members in Venezuela.  In a video shared by another freed journalist, Carreno called for “peace and reconciliation”.  To avoid scenes of jubilant opposition activists punching the air as they walk free from prison, the authorities have been releasing them quietly at other locations, far from the TV cameras and relatives waiting outside detention centres.  Carreno was released at a shopping mall.  Former presidential candidate Enrique Marquez, one of the first to be released, was driven home in a patrol car.  A US State Department official confirmed on Tuesday that Americans have been released, without saying how many or from where.  – Agence France-Presse  Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:19:30 Z /news/world/trump-says-greenland-will-work-out-after-denmark-fails-to-bridge-gap/ /news/world/trump-says-greenland-will-work-out-after-denmark-fails-to-bridge-gap/ US President Donald Trump has held open the possibility for a resolution on his designs over Greenland after Denmark’s top diplomat said he failed to change the administration’s mind on wanting to conquer the island.  The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous territory under Copenhagen’s sovereignty, met at the White House with Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a meeting the visitors had requested to clear up “misunderstandings” after Trump’s bellicose language toward the fellow Nato member.  Trump, speaking after the meeting which he did not attend, for the first time sounded conciliatory on Greenland, acknowledging Denmark’s interests even if he again said he was not ruling out any options.  “I have a very good relationship with Denmark, and we’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out,” Trump said without explaining further.  He again said Denmark was powerless if Russia or China wanted to occupy Greenland, but added: “There’s everything we can do.”  Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, speaking after leaving the White House, said a US takeover of Greenland was “absolutely not necessary”.  “We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” Lokke told reporters.  “We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.”  He said the issue was “very emotional” for the people of Greenland and Denmark, a steadfast US ally whose troops died alongside Americans in Afghanistan and, controversially, Iraq.  “Ideas that would not respect territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are, of course, totally unacceptable,” Lokke said.  He nonetheless said the tone was “constructive” and said the sides would form a committee that would meet within weeks to see if there was possible headway.  Referring to the British Prime Minister who trumpeted his diplomacy with Hitler, Lokke said, “I am not a Chamberlain to say ‘Peace for our time,’ but we must seize the opportunities that present themselves.”  Mocking tone  While the talks were underway, the White House posted on X: “Which way, Greenland man?”  The post included a drawing of two dog sleds - one heading towards the White House and a huge US flag, and the other towards Chinese and Russian flags over a lightning-bathed Kremlin and Great Wall of China.  Neither country has claimed Greenland, and Lokke said no Chinese ship had been spotted there in a decade and that there were no major Chinese investments.  Denmark promised before the meeting to ramp up its military presence further in the vast, sparsely populated and strategically located island.  Trump has derided recent Danish efforts to increase security for Greenland as amounting to “two dog sleds”. Denmark says it has invested almost US$14 billion in Arctic security.  Denmark also announced immediate military exercises that will include aircraft, vessels and soldiers, with Sweden also participating.  In another show of solidarity with Denmark following Trump’s threats, Germany and France both said Wednesday they will send troops to Greenland. German’s defence ministry said it would send a 13-person team.  Signs of relief  On the quiet streets of the capital Nuuk, red and white Greenlandic flags flew in shop windows, on apartment balconies, and on cars and buses, in a show of national unity during the talks.  Ivaana Egede Larsen, 43, said she felt relief that the meeting appeared to be cordial.  “I am more calm now, and I feel more safe. I had felt very much unsafe lately,” she said.  In Copenhagen, Thomas Fallesen, 56, voiced similar sentiments.  “They are now at least talking together instead of talking through the press. I think it’s a very positive thing,” he sa... Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:33:34 Z /news/national/man-charged-after-auckland-bus-driver-sprayed-with-fire-extinguisher/ /news/national/man-charged-after-auckland-bus-driver-sprayed-with-fire-extinguisher/ A man will appear in court today after an Auckland bus driver was sprayed with a fire extinguisher.  Police arrested a 32-year-old man last night and charged him with assault with a weapon and endangering transport.  The alleged assault happened aboard the 27H bus south of Mt Eden Rd near Mt Eden Village, about 6pm on Tuesday.  Passengers called the police and an ambulance, which transported the bus driver to Auckland Hospital to get checked out. She is now recovering at home.  Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill said a passenger allegedly became verbally aggressive towards the driver.  “He allegedly sprayed the driver with a fire extinguisher before exiting the bus.  “The driver avoided any significant effects, but she was understandably shaken by what occurred,” said Darvill.  He said the man will appear in the Auckland District Court today.  Police guard the scene where a bus passenger was stabbed in Orakei and later died. Photo / Hayden Woodward  The incident is the latest assault on bus drivers, following a 2022 surge that has since dropped away with the introduction of protective driver screens and drivers not arguing with passengers who refuse to pay, according to New Zealand Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt.  Auckland Transport (AT) is also fitting more than 70 buses with live CCTV cameras.  The new technology will allow a driver to silently press a button to alert a CCTV operator to watch a potential assault or abusive behaviour.  An AT spokesman said violent behaviour was “totally unacceptable”.  Last month, Sefo Leger died after a passenger on a bus from Glen Innes to Ōrākei pulled out a knife and “initiated an attack on him”, according to police.  Leger managed to get off the bus but died in hospital from his injuries. The suspected attacker stayed on the bus and allegedly attacked another man, who later needed surgery on his hand.  A 36-year-old man has been charged with murdering Leger and wounding Gerard Katu with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.  Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:25:33 Z