An 11-year-old from Tauranga has become the youngest-ever winner of the Hole in One Challenge at Lake Taupō, and is putting his $10,000 cash prize money towards a family vacation.Elijah Ellis told First Up he was shocked when it went in, while everyone around him started jumping up and down…

Keanu Reeves’ iconic bullet dodging backbend in The Matrix has topped a Samsung poll for the best cinematic stunts of all time.In total, 2000 film buffs crowned Neo’s impressive technique seen in the 1999 action sci-fi blockbuster the winner — topping Tom Cruise’s death-defying performance of hanging from a plane…

A sea of Southerners filled Dunedin’s Town Hall last night in support of the Save Our Southern Hospital campaign.The Government announced earlier this year the new Dunedin Hospital would either need to be cut back or done in stages, due to a budget blow-out.Around 1000 people turned up to hear…

After setting off from the Far North last Monday, hīkoi mō Te Tiriti is now in the capital and heading towards Parliament. Convoys travelled from Petone and Porirua early this morning to Waitangi Park, and now marchers are heading back towards Parliament. TVNZ+ will have video from the event throughout…

Two people have been taken into custody after a vehicle towing an allegedly stolen caravan “begun driving in a reckless manner” around the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday.Police said tools were thrown from the vehicle, damaging a patrol car and injuring two members of the public.The incident began when police received a…

One cellblock at Ngāwhā prison in the Far North was evacuated this morning after a prisoner lit a fire in his cell.Northland Region Corrections Facility general manager David Pattinson said staff responded immediately to remove the man from his cell and put out the fire.The other prisoners in the wing…

Foodstuffs North Island Limited and Foodstuffs South Island Limited say they will appeal the Commerce Commission’s decision to decline clearance for the two to become a single national grocery entity.In December 2023, Foodstuffs North Island (FSNI) and Foodstuffs South Island (FSSI) jointly filed an application with the Commerce Commission for…

Regulations Minister David Seymour has announced an online portal for people to lodge “red tape horror stories” with the Regulations Ministry.The ACT leader says regulations compliance removes billions of dollars from New Zealand’s economy every year, with NZIER estimating the cost to businesses at $5 billion in 2015.”We want to…

Liam Payne will be laid to rest in a private ceremony overnight. The former One Direction star died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16 at the age of 31 and it has now been revealed that his parents have put together a “perfect service”…

Kinleith Mill plans to halt paper processing next year with 230 jobs on the line. Workers were called to a meeting at the mill in Tokoroa on Wednesday morning. The pulp and paper mill is owned by Oji Fibre Solutions, which in September announced it was closing its operation at Penrose,…