A windy weekend is on the cards for parts of the North Island, with strong winds, thunderstorms and hail forecast across Te Ika-a-Māui in the coming days.MetService has issued multiple strong wind watches ahead of an active front that is expected to move across the area on Sunday, followed by…

About 200 people packed out the Mt Eden Village Centre in Auckland on Thursday night, furious over plans for high-density housing in the area.Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown directed Auckland Council earlier this year to allow for even greater housing and development around City Rail Link…

A man has been arrested after allegedly throwing broken glass at a police dog and handler who were called to a crime spree in Hamilton last night. At around 9.30pm, police were alerted to a man who had reportedly stolen a mobile phone from a passerby walking near Alma St.…

A “very small live snake” was found at the home of a Christchurch traveller who had just returned home from Bali.Biosecurity NZ surveillance and incursion manager Wendy McDonald said trained handlers were sent to a Christchurch property after a report of a small snake found in the suitcase of a…

Invercargill parking wardens are facing abuse on the back of rising parking fines approved by central government.Last October, infringement costs rose by an average of 70% for overstaying or parking inconsiderately at council-controlled parking spaces.The jump in fees boosted revenue but also led to some unsavoury behaviour from the public,…

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell has criticised Hobson’s Pledge for using her image without permission in a social media post critical of Māori wards.The post also used quotes from Tapsell, which she claimed were misrepresented to “mislead” people into believing she was aligned with the political lobby group’s messaging.”You do not…

He’s a champion for wellbeing in business and former semifinalist in the New Zealander of the Year. Business editor Sally Rae talks to former professional rugby player Craig Hudson about why he has got involved with Dunedin-based startup Givenwell.   When illness prematurely ended Craig Hudson’s professional rugby career at 23, it signalled…

Whether it’s award-winning Napier restaurant Pacifica closing its doors or Wellington brewery Fortune Favours shutting down, it seems barely a week goes by where there isn’t a high-profile hospitality business closing.Data supplied by Centrix shows there have been 297 hospitality businesses liquidated in the past 12 months, compared to 199…

A 17-year-old has been charged with murder in relation to the death of a man in Rotorua last week.Police were called to an assault on Trigg Ave in the early afternoon of August 20, at around 12.20pm.Detective Senior Sergeant Mark van Kempen said at the time a man was found…

KiwiSaver providers are backing calls to make it compulsory for employers to contribute to KiwiSaver – even if the employee is not contributing themselves.Because the scheme is workplace-based, people who earn more, or who are in the workforce for more of their adult lives, are likely to end up with…