Latest breaking news NZ | Stuff.co.nz

November 29 2021

Kia Ora, Aotearoa!

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Josephine Franks

Isolation deaths 'potentially preventable'

Brittney Deguara

PCR tests can identify Omicron cases

Marty Sharpe

DHB lacks staff for recommendation

Bernadette Basagre

What you can do under red traffic light

Live: Gunman dead and three police injured in Auckland shooting

Neighbours have been left shaken while one officer is in a serious condition and two have moderate injuries following a shooting at an Auckland house fire.

6m ago

Numbers 'firming' for Luxon, bid to win National leadership without a vote

Battle to replace Judith Collins underway as senior figures push for a deal to be done that avoids a contested vote.

57m ago

Unfiltered founder Jake Millar dies in Kenya

Millar set up the businesses Unfiltered and Oompher as a teenager and received millions of dollars in investments from high-profile businesspeople

3m ago

'Aggressively defiant' rule breaker jailed for deliberately damaging wetland

40m ago

Thousands sign petition calling for Rhythm & Vines to be cancelled

Iwi close popular Northland holiday spot over Covid fears

33m ago

Right or wrong? All White scores after goalkeeper goes down hurt

All Whites forward sparks debate after scoring a late goal in a 4-0 win for Turkish club Giresunspor when the opposition goalkeeper was down injured.

10:40am

'Possible' third case of Omicron variant in New South Wales

Premier of Australian state says there is a "possible" third case of the Covid mutation after 141 people arrived in Sydney from affected African countries.

6m ago

Livelihoods destroyed after fire ripped through Whakatāne's main street

A ram raid is believed to be behind a blaze that has damaged five businesses and "ruined people's livelihoods".

11m ago

Traffic light level for each region to be announced

latest headlines

12:32pm

Livelihoods destroyed after fire ripped through Whakatāne's main street

editors' picks

Quiz: Morning trivia challenge

Quiz: The three strikes trivia test

41m ago

Festive decor inspired by your favourite Christmas movie

58m ago

Cinemas open in traffic light system: What to expect

57m ago

Stephen Jones: Have the All Blacks gone, poor dears?

Australian TV host apologises for 'insulting' Adele

Lindsay Lohan is engaged: see her ring

Stowaway found alive in US-bound plane's landing gear

coronavirus More

Defence Force vaccine mandate legal challenge dropped

A case on behalf of 12 military personnel, from privates through to senior officers, has been deemed moot after last week's law change under urgency.

11m ago

Covid-19: New testing centres for the south

WellSouth will open Covid-19 testing centres in Invercargill and Dunedin in the coming weeks to make sure testing is as freely available as possible.

15m ago

Queenstown New Year's Eve party cancelled

The "complexities" of the traffic light system mean the annual fireworks and music performances can't be held this year.

49m ago

Europe is becoming a mess for travellers

Shouldn't Europe have whipped the coronavirus by now?

11:00am

Two deaths in home isolation 'potentially preventable'

There were "missed opportunities" that contributed to the deaths of two people in home isolation, an independent report says.

Vaccine mandate: 314 people have left St John

Of those that left, there were 20 were paid ambulance personnel, 59 volunteer ambulance staff, six in paid non-patient facing roles and 229 non-patient facing volunteers.

EMMA COOK

Donna Miles

Time for the National Party to embrace kindness

OPINION: "People who belittle kindness as a value in politics and business often do so to justify their own selfishness and cruelty."

Corinne Seals

Linguistic racism causes lasting damage

Eric Crampton

Burden of proof is on Medsafe to justify its existence

Jane Bowron

These are a few of my least favourite things

national More

Mega landlord describes 'rot' in market

Andrew Sowry manages one of NZ's largest private portfolios, and while he admits the system is in bad shape, he believes it can be fixed.

Government ban on harvesting shellfish in Waiheke Island waters

Ten months after mana whenua placed a rāhui on the waters around Auckland's Waiheke, MPI bans harvesting of scallop, mussel, crayfish and pāua.

24m ago

Police officer seriously hurt in hit-and-run

The officer was deploying road spikes when they were struck by a vehicle that continued to flee from the scene, police said.

'Formidable advocate' Margaret Sewell dies unexpectedly

A senior lawyer who has represented some of New Zealand’s most notorious murderers, including double child killer Jeremy McLaughlin, has died.

Owner delighted as lost dog Lani found after 18 days

The 16-month-old Shih Tzu-Bichon cross was found on Sunday afternoon, about 2km from where she went missing.

Fraud case opens lid on aero club turbulence

An office manager at the centre of a dispute that divided the Marlborough Aero Club has been convicted of fraud offences.

11:01am

world More

Three threats to the global economic recovery

Tightening American monetary policy, slowing China and the Omicron variant.

South African lab trying to replicate Moderna vaccine

Afrigen is racing to make the vaccine that Moderna refuses to share the recipe for. Only 6% of Africa's 1.2 billion people have been inoculated.

PCR tests can quickly, cheaply identify Omicron cases - WHO

PCR tests can be used to quickly identify cases infected with the new Omicron variant, instead of relying on the more expensive and “laborious” genome sequencing.

Travel bans may be too late to stop Omicron's global spread, experts warn

Governments have scrambled to close their borders to southern Africa, but the Covid variant cases are already cropping up as far away as Asia and Australia.

US officials struggling to recover from mysterious 'Havana Syndrome'

More than 200 US diplomats, intelligence operatives, and military officials have now experienced unexplained neurological trauma that has forced some of them to leave their careers.

German coalition proposes a combustion-car ban without saying so

Germany’s new coalition government may have to ban sales of ICE vehicles by as soon as 2028 if it wants to achieve its goal of having 15 million EVs on the country’s roads by the end of the decade.

Mega landlord describes 'rot' in market that advantages investors

Traffic light settings for all areas to be announced

Man shot dead after opening fire at police officers, injuring three

Quiz: Morning trivia challenge: November 29, 2021

Man who paid $500k for his dream home says he's been ripped off

Unfiltered founder Jake Millar dies in Kenya

'Formidable advocate' Margaret Sewell dies unexpectedly

Black Caps face monumental task in first test after late controversy

Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber mourn the death of designer Virgil Abloh

15m ago

Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton and Off-White designer, dead at 41

From today, women are working for free: here's how to fight back

11:01am

No country for old women: No Sex in the City please, we're ageing

Dinner sorted: 5 meals where the veg are the star

Shaneel Lal: 'As a trans person, how I dress dictates my safety'

Why I'm letting go of the clothes that defined my 20s

Gifts so good the Sunday team buy them over and over again

For Michael Kors 'good taste' will never go out of style

Leah McFall on the life-changing magic of RNZ

travel More

Inside the most magical escape in NZ

You'll be treated to world-class food and a chance to really unwind.

NZ's best farmers' market

The weekly gathering at Hastings' Waikoko Gardens is one of the oldest and largest farmers' markets in the country.

The plane design with a dance floor and a veranda

A German design company has come up with the ultimate status symbol, a wild concept plane for the one percenters of the world.

Ten scenic cycling and walking trails in Hawke's Bay

Go-To Guides: The only guide you'll need to Hawke's Bay, ever

Kauri gum gin offers a taste of the forest

The best beaches in Hawke's Bay

business More

$36,000 New Year's resolution victory

What we can learn from a woman who paid off her debts in just 12 months.

Village Goldsmith invents 'floating' diamond, eyes a glittering prize

A diamond setting that cost a Wellington jeweller millions of dollars to develop is hoped to deliver a reward in the billions.

Five things to know if you want to buy a house next year

Here are the steps you can take that brokers say will improve your chances of success.

The Monitor economy Q&A: Chris Roberts, Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO

Tourism operators’ reserves and resolve are running out, says tourism organisation CEO.

Are you on track for retirement?

OPINION: Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to that question.

Top bosses' pay 'in another universe' compared to the workers

There seems to be a growing acceptance of the huge inequity between people struggling on the minimum wage and “bizarre salaries” at the top, says the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner.

prosper More

Why you need an exit strategy for your business

OPINION: An exit strategy is not a promise, but it can help you make better decisions today, while working in the present.

How to keep your salon business alive

OPINION: Salons, spas, massage studios, and wellness clinics are making hard decisions on what their futures look like. Here are some tips that have helped us in recent months.

What I've Learned: Know who plays in your space

A tale of two businesses

What businesses need to know about vaccine passes and mandates

climate change More

The terrifying doco Scott Morrison won't want you to see hits Amazon

REVIEW: Thanks to Eva Orner’s vital, vivid and visceral film, you’ll witness the devastation and despair in all its tear and fear-inducing horror.

City leaders criticise Government's plan to address climate change

Christchurch City Council wants the ability to investigate congestion charging as a way to reduce emissions.

With time running out on climate change, investors force companies to act

Free buses get support, despite mayor's political misgivings

Council adopts 'five star' climate plan

pou tiaki More

Celebrating her reo through children's book

Author overcomes prejudice towards te reo Māori to release children's book celebrating world's largest kapa haka festival.

Maniapoto prepares for worst-case scenario

The iwi, supported by mayors, asks for Government resource to prepare for a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Highway improvements will restrain but not stop the 'taniwha'

Announced safety upgrades to a notorious stretch of State Highway 1 are cautiously welcomed by those who have come to expect carnage outside their homes.

Tui Ora providing saliva testing for Covid

Taranaki Māori health provider Tui Ora is now able to offer saliva testing as well as nasal swabbing to test for Covid-19.

Māori vaccination effort goes door-to-door in Taranaki

Groups of rangatahi are going door-to-door in towns and suburbs with high Māori populations in Taranaki in an effort to boost flagging vaccination rates.

Dr Damon Salesa on the decisions that define you

New AUT vice-chancellor talks about his dad, and growing up as one of the first brown families in his Glen Innes neighbourhood.

All-boys school student first to wear a dress to the ball

Charlie Philips is owning their role as a trailblazer, but says their school is much more progressive than it gets credit for.

Migrants and refugees stop job hunting due to driving test delays

22,000 driving tests have been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Unable to practise, this has taken migrants and refugees "back to zero".

sport More

Did Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson let India's batsmen off the hook?

Captain's tactics came under scrutiny as India turned the screws on New Zealand on the penultimate day of the first test.

How Max Verstappen can win F1 title early in Saudi Arabia

Here are the calculations that would see Dutch driver beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 title at penultimate round in Jeddah this weekend.

Watch: Umpire's error, Black Caps' hesitancy leaves visitors in trouble

Opener Will Young was wrongly given out, but took a second too long to ask for a review as India piled on the pressure in the first test.

Grandson of legendary All Black Brian Lochore named in Barbarians squad

Black Caps face monumental task in first test after late controversy

Wallabies players, staff test positive for Covid-19 in UK

'I'm the greatest fighter in Australian history'

homed More

Why some homeowners choose to rent

Some people own a property, but rent the home they actually live in and there are many reasons why.

Derelict stone pub could be perfect Grand Designs project

Abandoned 10 years ago, and uninhabited for the past 21 years, this heritage-listed building in Canterbury needs a new owner.

'Affordable housing is not a pipe dream'

Award-winning Kāinga Ora and Kiwibuild developments are proof affordable housing can still be comfortable and attractive.

Go local: 9 unique gifts to buy this Christmas

Is summer the best time to sell your bach?

Meet the man who wants to screen print your walls

Dunedin cafe's hyper local organic vegetables

entertainment More

The weird, wild and tragically short life of Anna Nicole Smith

From the pages of Playboy to the United States Supreme Court, Texas-born beauty Anna Nicole Smith left her mark in the annals of pop culture before her rapid decline.

Even Sheridan Smith can't save TVNZ’s latest British thriller

REVIEW: With its blurry, morning-after-a-big-night-out shooting style and telegraphed "hints", this clunkily sets the viewer up for what to expect.

The Dune skill Timothée Chalamet learned he hopes he never has to use

Forget fight choreography, there was something else that almost got the better of the young star and Mission: Impossible veteran Rebecca Ferguson.

Eight great shows to stream this week

Tem, Taika and Ryan Reynolds' gloomy Green Lantern hits Neon

Scribe's bracing, honest, extremely watchable series

The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers wants to get back to his quaint rural roots

motoring More

Biden's praise for GM overlooks Tesla's actual EV leadership

OPINION: U.S President Joe Biden's praise for General Motors electrification efforts overlooks Tesla's actual leadership in the EV market.

Ranger V6 rocks, VW boss says

News of a V6-powered Ford Ranger with permanent AWD is music to the ears of Volkswagen Commercial's New Zealand boss.

Cold-starting a Bugatti Chiron and revving a Koenigsegg Jesko

Meet the next-generation Kia Niro

kea kids news More

Thriving as arguably the smallest 5-year-old in NZ

OPINION: I know that this will be a different world for my son than it was for me.

Floating lessons — these Kiwi kids go to school on a hospital ship

The Pollard family left their home to live on "Africa Mercy," a hospital ship that offers both on-board operations and treatments and land-based healthcare around coastal Africa.