Latest breaking news NZ | Stuff.co.nz

June 20 2021

Kia Ora, Aotearoa!

regions

Auckland

Auckland

Canterbury

Ashburton
Christchurch
Timaru

Central North Island

Rotorua
Taupo
Tauranga
Whakatane

Hawke's Bay

Gisborne
Hastings
Napier

Manawatu

Dannevirke
Levin
Palmerston North
Whanganui

Marlborough

Blenheim
Kaikoura

Nelson

Motueka
Nelson

Northland

Dargaville
Kaitaia
Paihia
Russell
Whangarei

Wellington

Paraparaumu
Masterton
Wellington

Otago

Alexandra
Dunedin
Oamaru
Queenstown
Wanaka

Southland

Gore
Invercargill

Taranaki

New Plymouth
Taumarunui

Waikato

Hamilton
Te Kuiti
Thames
Tokoroa

West Coast

Westport
Greymouth
Reefton
Hokitika

Michelle Duff

What parenting looks like in Aotearoa

Andrea Vance

The politics of discomfort

Vicki Anderson

Chch death metal band signs with US label

Charlie Mitchell

Left off the map again? The solution for NZ

They were 'emanating foul odour': Mother pleads guilty to ill-treatment of children

In one incident, her child was found unaccompanied, wearing just a pair of boxers, a singlet and no shoes during winter.

Matthew Littlewood

Toyota asks Taxpayers' Union to remove 'They Are Us' post about car tax

The organisation has been criticised for using a phrase associated with an outpouring of sympathy for the March 15 terror victims to oppose a new car tax.

7:07pm

Charlie Gates

Peters attacks Government, 'cancel culture' and economy in comeback speech

Winston Peters takes on Labour, National, feebate, 'cancel culture', te reo usage, and the state of the economy in his first speech since losing power.

Christchurch family lose home, belongings and cherished cat in fire

Ariana Reiri and two of her children escaped after she woke to find "roaring flames" running up the wall of her living room. The family cat, Xambles, was not so lucky.

The Block NZ: First reveal sees judges clash big time

33m ago

Alien-looking sea slug found at Nelson beach

Watene-Zelezniak's Warriors move complete

Former Kiwis captain now set to join the Warriors immediately after telling his Bulldogs buddies he'd played his last game for Canterbury.

18m ago

No booze until menopause: WHO alcohol guidance sparks backlash

Calls for women “of childbearing age” to avoid alcohol are being called "regressive" and likened to advice from The Handmaid’s Tale.

MIQ officials battle 'ongoing issues' with demanding Olympic athletes

Some athletes wanted bigger rooms and special treatment. Managed isolation officials had other ideas.

Tongan man fatally stabbed in Blenheim was out celebrating friend's birthday

latest headlines

8:45pm

Auckland tornado: 80 houses still with no power, welfare centre closes

editors' picks

Quiz: Afternoon trivia challenge

Can the Black Caps keep India in check on day three?

At home with a 'very tidy' Carlos Spencer who's turning his hand to DIY

'Stigma of sideline abuse' an issue as ref numbers plummet

Piers Morgan claims he wasn't sacked from TV role because of Meghan

From gang to government: Fete Taito has forged his own pathway

Barbers of Birkenhead more bazaar than bizarre

Sydney ordered to mask up as NSW records new Covid cases

SHARON MURDOCH

Mohamed Moustafa

Terror film a squandered opportunity

OPINION: By highlighting and celebrating PM's actions we are inadvertently lowering the bar when we should be striving for much more.

Jess Berentson-Shaw

Helping people over the vaccination line is simpler than you think

Damien Grant

Drug bust was a huge coup - but the surveillance should trouble free citizens

Polly Gillespie

We live in a new period defined by fear

national More

'Best father, best husband' killed in Auckland tornado

Janesh Prasad "always had something for someone else" as he worked tirelessly for his wife and kids in Auckland, and family back in Fiji, his best friend says.

Biker seriously injured after 'head-on' collision with truck

A motorcyclist narrowly avoided being crushed under the wheels of a truck after a crash in an industrial area of Christchurch.

Property developer Pokeno 'piranha' gets home detention

A property entrepreneur who demanded cash payments from co-investors to make deals happen has escaped jail, but must stay at home for nine months.

Flooding cuts off East Cape town

State Highway 35 around the East Cape will be closed for days due to a slip brought down as a heavy rain heads south towards Wairarapa and beyond.

Auckland tornado: 80 houses still with no power, welfare centre closes

Some 80 houses are still left without power and 32 people still in emergency accommodation after a tornado ripped through Papatoetoe on Saturday.

7:25pm

Border worker fired for refusing to get vaccinated challenges dismissal

The former border worker claims her employer was unreasonable to insist that she should be vaccinated for the role she undertook.

world More

Harrowing tales emerge from Japan's psychiatric patients

A new study has found psychiatric patients in Japan are 3200 times more likely to be physically restrained than patients in New Zealand.

2m ago

Juneteenth, recalling end of slavery, is marked across US

This year's Juneteenth commemorations carried even more significance after President Joe Biden created a national holiday to observe the end of slavery in the US.

Endangered tortoises stranded in Hong Kong due to Covid-19 pandemic

The reptiles, along with nearly 400 other animals, are waiting to be resettled at other zoos or conservation centres around the world.

HBO intern sends out wrong email leading to 'I'm Spartacus' moment

A nameless intern at HBO Max earned support online after the company called them out over a mailout mistake.

Biden returns from world tour to growing list of domestic headaches

Spending plans have hit treacle and approval ratings are falling for the Democrat leader of the free world.

Giorgia Meloni: The far-Right leader who could be Italy's first female PM

Giorgia Meloni has turned the Brothers of Italy, the heir to the Italian fascist movement, into the country's second most popular party

Tongan man fatally stabbed in Blenheim was out celebrating friend's birthday

Peters attacks word 'Aotearoa' in comeback speech

Pokeno 'piranha' gets home detention

Two dead following serious crash in Auckland

'It's your worst possible nightmare': Elderly woman, son attacked at home

The relentless work and vast expectations of modern parenting

East Cape town will be isolated for days as flooding closes one road in

Quiz: Afternoon trivia challenge: June 20, 2021

The ultimate EV test: A 100-day roadie around New Zealand

This wasn't some glamorous electric-powered holiday around New Zealand; it involved roadside diarrhoea, a road that floats and a near-serious accident.

Wairoa Gorge: Riding to the challenge

It's a jewel in Nelson's mountainbiking crown but with a reputation for challenging riding. New manager Greg McIntyre is out to try and change that.

Twenty things that will surprise you in Western Sydney

You can access new dining hotspots, historic towns and more activities and attractions than you'll ever find in Sydney's more conventional visitor destinations.

Pacific Resort Rarotonga - A luxury haven

The Aussie crab made famous by Netflix

Love art? Take a tour of Dunedin's murals

Why everyone should visit Nelson

business More

Major shipping issues could get worse

An international expert is reluctant to suggest state intervention for our shipping problems, but can't think of much else.

Matariki seen as more important than Queen's Birthday, survey shows

Matariki is rated above Queen’s Birthday, a year before Aotearoa's 12th public holiday officially begins.

End to funeral 'price shock' looking likely

The funeral industry is backing plans for minimum standards and pricing transparency.

It's Ok to hate working from home

Work at home without a desk, or shift to a new job in a funky office with a table tennis league? The decision was a no-brainer for Jadon Shiva.

Fighting Covid-19 vaccine misinformation in the workplace

Employers are warned to be on the lookout for false claims about the Covid-19 vaccine, but it can be hard to say exactly what they should be doing.

Fiona Mackenzie, taking a risk on a good story and investing in 2021

She graduated after the 1987 stockmarket crash which scarred the market for years, now she's managing a service dealing with bullish DIY investors.

prosper More

Covid changed the way Kiwis shop

Elisha Watson says the change was noticeable - and she hopes it lasts.

How agility in contracts can help innovation

OPINION: The style of contracts lawyers are using to manage groundbreaking projects don't allow for the uncertainties these ventures present.

'Uber for home services' start-up has big plans

Five steps SMEs can take to lead on digital transformation

Mum inspires new sweet treat business venture

climate change More

Room for improvement on climate report

OPINION: The Climate Change Commission's report is a great starting point for our country’s climate strategy, but it needs to be reviewed and improved.

Culling deer, possums could slash NZ's climate impact — report

Monitoring shows old-growth native forests are in equilibrium — but they could be sinking much more carbon dioxide if we culled pests, lobby group says.

Judaism, Islam and Christianity: can faith inspire climate action?

‘Mad rush’ as electric car sales surge in Auckland

Carbon emissions barely fall in Auckland transport plan

pou tiaki More

'Inspiring' first ever Māori Futures conference held in Christchurch

Held for the first time, the Māori Futures Symposium aimed to create 'an ambitious road map for the future'.

Matariki seen as more important than Queen's Birthday, survey shows

Matariki is rated above Queen’s Birthday, a year before Aotearoa's 12th public holiday officially begins.

Bringing te ao Māori to New York City

Landscape artist Tama Whiting was inspired by his grandfather. Now he's working on diversifying spaces in one of the largest cities in the world.

The revolutionary Polynesians who stopped the dawn raids

Stuff podcast Once a Panther reveals how the Polynesian Panthers used guerilla manoeuvres to stop an oppressive government.

Understanding Matariki through food

Iconic central Auckland restaurant Coco's Cantina is on a mission to promote better understanding of Matariki and te ao Māori.

Feeding yourself with Māori gardening

A new book guides beginners and experienced gardeners through establishing a contemporary māra (garden).

Dawn raid families respected system 'terrorising' them - lawyer

“They probably were screaming inside,” said Roger Laybourn, who began his legal career arguing for bail for alleged overstayers.

Life and death with Casketeers Francis and Kaiora Tipene

The couple behind The Casketeers open up about how they cope, and the horrors of Covid-19.

sport More

Blues confirm plan to ease Roger Tuivasa-Sheck into rugby with Auckland

Leon MacDonald says he won't rush into a decision on the best position for his star signing from the Warriors.

Mystics take step towards finals with impressive win

Mystics move closer to clinching an ANZ Premiership finals berth with a polished victory over sluggish Pulse.

Van Gisbergen flies to Supercars victories

Kiwi star Shane van Gisbergen closing in on a second Supercars title with his seventh and eighth wins of the season.

53m ago

'Not ideal': Black Caps frustrated by stoppages, Indian batting fightback

Hawks deliver statement win over Saints

7:10pm

Triumphant Blues to lose key quartet, but well placed to push on

'Oh no, no, no!': Sergio Garcia gets awfully bad luck off flagstick at US Open

homed More

How to make money from your home

Homeowners looking to boost their income now have many ways to make money from their property.

Daniel Radcliffe sells Melbourne apartment to his parents for $2.1m

Accio, real estate deal! Actor Daniel Radcliffe has sold his stylish Australian apartment to some buyers he knows very well indeed.

Flatpack kitchens can be a bargain

Yes, you can get a DIY kitchen for less than $1000, a fraction of the cost of a custom-built design. But should you?

Move over RuPaul, it's time for drag kings to rule

Do your electrics look like this? It might be time to get them checked

A kitchen for people who didn't want 'normal'

Why you should think about renting before buying into a holiday town

lifestyle More

Supermarket Sleuth: Five chicken nuggets that rival McDonald's

Fig, apple and nutmeg flapjacks

Braise of lentils with roast pumpkin and hazelnut

How to make caramel apples

Butterscotch and apple self-saucing pudding

Nadia Lim: The unexpected skills needed to be a farmer

Decluttering couples: When opposite cleaning styles attract

Nine clean beauty products to give a spin on your skin

Inside the world of Casketeers Francis and Kaiora Tipene

DIY love: How Sammy-Rose fell for the tradie renovating her house

entertainment More

Like father, like son

Comedian Eli Matthewson is out and proud - but it was a 'complete surprise' when his dad also came out as gay.

Jessica Biel shines in Neon's taut, engrossing, terrifying Limetown

REVIEW: It’s dark, sometimes disturbing and won’t be to everyone’s taste, but this is an effective little chiller, perfect for long winter nights.

7:50pm

RuPaul crowns her Drag Queen winner

OPINION: The choreography in the final challenge was as messy as this season has been, to be honest. But one New Zealand queen reigned supreme.

Lion King cast, crew excited for opening night

Crowded House's new album is more than worth the wait

The Guardian's addictive podcast that takes you beyond the headlines

Violence Paradox a smart, well-researched, ultimately uplifting series

motoring More

Is the F-Pace SVR the last gasp for V8 Jags?

Jaguar is going all-electric by 2025, so the new F-Pace SVR is either a last chance or a last insult. Depending on your point of view.

Quick Charge: what exactly does the Clean Car Discount mean for car buyers?

What cars are eligible? How much discount will you get? How much more will you pay for a diesel ute? We take a look at the biggest questions surrounding the new Clean Car Discount.

Dodge wants to beat Tesla at its own game

Ten new hybrids and three EVs coming for Mazda

kea kids news More

How Lego therapy changed the life of a 4-year-old autistic boy

Samuel has gone from rocking on the floor to finding his passion - becoming a Lego master builder.

There are tomatoes coming out their ears

From pet food to make up, KEA Kids News discovers creative new uses for an excess of juicy, but unwanted, tomatoes.

The sport where picking the perfect poo is pivotal

Wellington Phoenix striker living every kid's footballing dream

spotlight More

One suburb, 10 barbershops, a thousand stories

How chemical weapons, cumulative attraction and the internet explain the Birkenhead barbershop boom.

The relentless work and vast expectations of modern parenting

Three Kiwi families open their lives, sharing their struggles to raise healthy kids, build careers and stave off utter exhaustation.

'The same faces in the boys' homes would end up in prison'

Despite beginning on a violent pathway where the power of your fists got you respect, Fa’afete’ ‘Fete’ Taito has earned his mana through his head and his heart.

Aotearoa gets left off world maps - but there's a simple solution

OPINION: The world map you know makes New Zealand an afterthought. It's unfair, and inaccurate - but not an impossible problem to solve.

1 news More

from our partners

►Cynthia Bailey got the 'best... surprise ever' from daughter Noelle Robinson

►How Zoë Kravitz 'completely convinced' Channing Tatum to stop wearing Crocs

►Kim Kardashian teases if she'll ever stop taking sexy photos

►Katy Perry's subtle shout-out to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez will have you on the floor

►Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker look more in love than ever during Malibu date

►Up in the sky: Aotearoa's space business is booming

►From victim to villain in NZ's housing crisis

►Discovery’s plans for TV3 revealed

►Government stepping in to regulate social media

►Dumping on the Māori world view

►Covid-19: Fiji records 91 new cases

►Dad discovers incurable cancer, two weeks after welcoming new son

►Covid-19: 116 new cases, one death confirmed in Fiji

►Radio Tarana marks 25 years with fundraising drive for Starship

►Fiji's PM rules out lockdown despite record Covid-19 cases

►Up in the sky: Aotearoa's space business is booming

►Western Institute of Technology quadruples funding bid for 'just transition'

►Christchurch shooting film highlights the delicate nature of filming a real-life tragedy

►WorkSafe recommends shift fix to Wellington Free Ambulance

►Cook Islands booming but challenges remain

►Former West Coast Regional Council chairman pinged for waste dumping

►Heritage review after 'glaring omission' in council spending

►Illegal dumping in construction industry target of Auckland scheme

►Half of Marlborough's pensioners on accommodation benefit, housing experts warn

►Shadbolt reveals health diagnosis affecting ability to 'defend' himself

►Is a breathing coach worth the money?

►Nine winter coats to snuggle up in

►What to wear if you want to make a good impression

►The Divorce Diaries: He left me, then went on our honeymoon... with my friend

►High school to high street: Ella Cook is the NZ designer that could

Fill a bag at New World

SPONSORED

SPONSORED: How you can help New World’s mission to help families in need

Ski and soak in Canterbury

SPONSORED

SPONSORED: Why mid-Canterbury is your ultimate winter adventure holiday destination.

Digital banking revolution

SPONSORED

SPONSORED: Many things have changed, but the move to digital banking is here to stay

Ford Transit: A van that can

SPONSORED

SPONSORED: New technology and safety specification helps to grow Ford Transit’s massive worldwide reputation – and to help keep Kiwi drivers safe and comfortable.

our network's top stories

►East Cape town will be isolated for days as flooding closes one road in

►Charges yet to be laid after Wellington brawl, police hunt for those involved

►'It's your worst possible nightmare': Elderly woman, son attacked at home

►Creative pairings celebrate Atamira's extraordinary pioneers in TE WHEKE

►Tongan man fatally stabbed in Blenheim was out celebrating friend's birthday

►Taxpayers' Union takes down 'They Are Us' online post after complaint from Toyota

►Councillors dismiss proposal to look at new ways of voting them into office

►Irish charm in abundance at new show

►Young family left to rebuild lives after fire guts their home and kills beloved pet cat

►'It's been a really nourishing and uplifting event', say Māori Futures organiser.

►End of the road in sight for Innovating Streets trial in Hamilton