Donald Trump wants to make Hollywood “bigger, better and stronger” and has cast Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as stars of what he is calling his “Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California”.On Thursday, the President-elect announced on his social media site that the…

A three-vehicle crash has closed State Highway 29, Lower Kaimai this morning and left one person with critical injuries.The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said the crash occurred between McLaren Falls Rd and Poripori Rd.”Delay your journey or follow directions of response crews and expect long delays,” it said.There is…

Provisional figures show new literacy and numeracy requirements have dented NCEA level 1 pass rates.The Qualifications Authority said only 64 percent of Year 11 students attempted level one last year and 70% of that group were successful, down from 82% in 2023.NZQA said the decline was due to the new…

When Northland ear specialist Marg Hunt was driving to work on Thursday morning, she was not surprised to hear on the radio that there were hundreds of ACC claims relating to cockroaches in ears over the past five years.”I was laughing because I was thinking ‘oh gosh, you know, that’s…

ASB is the latest major lender to cut its mortgage rates as banks respond to falling short-term wholesale interest rates. The bank is cutting its six-month, one-year and 18-month rates by 20 basis points each, with the one-year term at a market leading rate of 5.59%. It came after Westpac…

Animal management officers Ginny Mason and Kevin Gregor have become familiar faces in South Auckland.They said they visited so often that residents had started waving as they passed by.After watching several roaming dogs sprint back home when they pull up, Mason said she thought dogs also recognise their white van…

It Ends With Us actor and director Justin Baldoni has sued his co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation overnight in the latest step in a bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama.Baldoni’s suit seeks at least US$400 million (NZ$713 million) for damages that…

ASB has announced changes to some of its fixed mortgage rates.The bank has dropped its 1-year term 20 basis points to 5.59%, from 5.79%.Its 18-month term has also dropped 20 basis points to 5.39% from 5.59%.The six-month rate dropped from 6.19% to 5.99%.The rates are for those with minimum 20%…

Police are investigating after a person was shot in East Auckland last night.In a statement, a police spokesperson said police were called after three males entered a premises on Dunrobin Place, Highland Park and assaulted a man.A shot was fired and one person received serious injuries. St John said it…

David Lynch, the filmmaker celebrated for his uniquely dark vision in such movies as Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive and the TV series Twin Peaks, has died just days before his 79th birthday.His family announced the death in a Facebook post on overnight. The cause of death and location was…