Police are scouring a "large search area" for a shooter who killed three people and injured a fourth in a small town in New South Wales' central west before fleeing in a vehicle. Locals in Lake Cargelligo, about 550km west of Sydney, have been told to stay indoors and report any suspicious activity after the attack on Thursday afternoon. A 32-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were killed when bullets were fired into their vehicle about 4.20pm on Bokhara St, Lake Cargelligo. A short time later, a 50-year-old woman was shot dead at nearby Walker St, and a 19-year-old man was also shot and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. "As there has been a number of shootings and the offender has not been detained - please stay indoors until the advice changes."

Photo: Supplied via RNZBy Kate Newton of RNZLa Niña conditions and background climate change trends combined to create the intense rainfall that devastated North Island communities, climate experts say. Photo: Supplied / Earth Sciences New ZealandEarth Sciences New Zealand chief climate scientist Sam Dean said New Zealand's mountainous terrain did not help. "[But] we do believe we are seeing more extreme rainfall events occurring. "The planet has been very warm the last couple of years and it's been a rapid warming... so it's like getting a peek into the future." Warmer air can hold more moisture so you tend to get heavier rainfall... That's the climate change trend."

Tom Phillips died following a shootout with police in September 2025. However, RNZ understands his family was not told until after 7.30am, and the mother was not told until after 8am. "Subsequent announcements confirmed that Tom Phillips had been fatally shot during the incident." RNZ asked police why the documentary crew were informed before relatives, and what the text message said. Rogers said the message informed a member of the documentary crew there had been a critical incident relating to Tom Phillips.

Macandrew Bay cafe The Duck will reopen its doors next Tuesday, with head chef Justin Woodrow now also taking up the role of owner. Mr Woodrow, the cafe’s head chef of about three years, stepped in as owner after now former owner Emma Strybosch last week made the "heartbreaking" decision to close the establishment. Mr Woodrow said the situation meant he and the rest of The Duck’s staff initially lost their jobs. When the opportunity came up to take over the lease, Mr Woodrow jumped at it, he said. Most of the staff were staying on, and he would retain his role of head chef, too.

The historic Skippers Bridge is closed to all vehicles due to the risk that the bridge could fall. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED/STEPHEN JAQUIERYA historic Queenstown bridge is in such a bad state it risks "catastrophic collapse", an engineering report has revealed. Skipper Bridge — which was built in 1901 and is New Zealand’s highest suspension bridge — has been closed to all vehicles, cyclists and motorists until further notice due to the risk of the bridge failing. The bridge links Queenstown to Skippers Valley and the Mount Aurum Recreation Reserve. The cracking could lead to sudden and catastrophic collapse of the bridge, the report said.

Photo: LDR/Matthew RosenbergFailed Southland mayoral candidate Gary Tong says he wasn't behind the 'Tick Tong' campaign stickers plastered across the region during the local election. The former mayor recontested the Southland district mayoralty in October after losing to incumbent Rob Scott in 2022. But as recently as December, "Tick Tong" messaging could still be seen on a council rubbish drum in Riverton, where the former mayor lives. Tong said he found out 500 stickers were created and appeared around the region including Ōtautau and Te Anau. A spokesperson for Southland District Council said council-owned assets, including rubbish bins, were not approved places for election advertising.

New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) and Sky have today announced a strategic partnership that will see the weekday online news show hosted by Ryan Bridge become available on ThreeNow from 26 January and on Three in the second half of the year. The name of the show will also change from Herald NOW to Ryan Bridge TODAY. Hosted by the award-winning broadcaster, Ryan Bridge TODAY streams live from 7am to 9am weekdays on the Herald NOW video channel on nzherald.co.nz, covering breaking news, exclusive interviews, investigative journalism and comprehensive coverage across entertainment, business and politics. In addition to Ryan Bridge TODAY, a new half-hour business show called Herald NOW Business with Garth Bray will air at 6.30am weekdays, launching in the first quarter of 2026. Ryan Bridge TODAY, and later in 2026 Herald NOW Business with Garth Bray, will continue to be available via the NZ Herald homepage on desktop and mobile devices, the NZ Herald app and on YouTube, ensuring people can access premium video news content on their preferred platform.

Daniel Hillier of New Zealand plays his second shot on the 18th hole during day one of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Photo / Getty ImagesDaniel Hillier of New Zealand plays his second shot on the 18th hole during day one of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Photo / Getty ImagesDaniel Hillier had an eagle to continue his strong start to 2026, shooting a two-under 70 to sit five back from leader Francesco Molinari after the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic. The Kiwi trio of Hillier (two-under), Ryan Fox (even) and Kazuma Kobori (even) all sit in the top half of the field of a tournament that features a $15.2 million total prize purse. Both Kobori and Fox had up-and-down rounds mixed with four birdies and four bogeys each to sit in 41st place.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a speech Thursday accused the United States and Israel of stoking the protests as a “cowardly revenge... for the defeat in the 12-Day War”. The group is sanctioned as a terrorist entity by countries including Australia, Canada and the United States, and campaigners have long urged similar moves from the EU and UK. ‘National kill-switch’Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities on Wednesday said 3117 people were killed. Iranian authorities reported 3,117 deaths from protests, but rights groups claim the toll is much higher. On Thursday alone, state TV announced over 200 more arrests in provinces including Kermanshah in the west and Isfahan in central Iran.

The aftermath of the crash. Photo: Geoff SloanAn e-scooter rider has died after being struck by a train in the Christchurch suburb of Addington early today. Police were called to the scene on Lincoln Rd at 3.30am and officers said the person died at the scene. Road closures are in place to allow the Serious Crash Unit to undertake an examination of the scene. The aftermath of the crash.

While the south end of New Zealand appears to be avoiding much of the wild weather that has devastated the North Island, MetService says we will not be getting off scot free. Meteorologist Silvia Martino said wet and windy weather was headed for Otago and Southland today, and was expected to hang around for the entire weekend. The forecaster has this morning issued a heavy rain watch and a strong wind watch for parts of both provinces. The heavy rain watch covers Dunedin, Clutha, Central Otago south of Alexandra, and Southland, for 30 hours from 9am tomorrow to 3pm on Sunday. The strong wind watch covers coastal Otago and Southland from Waikouati to Bluff, and Stewart Island, for nine hours from 9pm tomorrow to 6am on Sunday.

In response to an Official Information Act (OIA) request from RNZ’s Mata, police refused to say when the Phillips family and the mother of the children were notified about the incident. However, RNZ understands his family was not told until after 7.30am, and the mother was not told until after 8am. Tom Phillips died following a shootout with police in September 2025. RNZ asked police why the documentary crew were informed before relatives, and what the text message said. “While it was ill-advised, the staff member who sent it has been the main point of contact for the documentary crew and did not act with any bad intent.

The court heard that in February 2025 McAuley knocked on the victim’s door and claimed to be “doing rounds for gutter cleaning”. Photo / Greg BowkerSarah said her mother was deeply affected by McAuley’s offending. Photo / NZME“I want a sentence that reflects the deliberate targeting of elderly women in vulnerable positions,” she said. A litany of offending: McAuley’s scammingIn 2023, McAuley was jailed for more than two years for offending against two elderly women in 2022 – one of whom was recovering from a severe stroke. McAuley has been jailed repeatedly for ripping off elderly women.

Smith said his decision to bring charges against Trump was taken “without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election”. Trump denied both charges and sought to frame them as politically motivated, accusing the Justice Department of being weaponised against him. Smith had requested that the deposition be delivered in public, but the Republican majority on the House panel declined his request. Republican committee chairman Jim Jordan accused Smith at Thursday’s hearing of seeking to “get President Trump” in an attempt to prevent him from seeking reelection in 2024. “He’s got to stop President Trump from running, tie him up in court,” Jordan said.

By the end of this decade, the New Zealand Government, whoever leads it, will have both raised taxes and cut the welfare state. Over the 20 years before 2008, neither main party offered handouts or tax cuts unless the money was already in the bank. Borrowing for handouts or tax cuts was assumed to be a sure election loser. After Covid, the initially prudent Grant Robertson became even worse than English, and Nicola Willis’ numbers are little better. Whatever Luxon and Hipkins promise you in terms of spending increases or tax cuts should be ignored.