He holds an active role in the industry association for the timeshares in New Zealand as a member of the New Zealand Holiday Ownership Council (formerly the New Zealand Timeshare Owners Association). The sun might be setting on the concept of timeshare holiday accommodation, once popular among the now-boomer generation. The decision in 2025 to wind up the Bishop Selwyn timeshare resort in Paihia was one of five in as many years handled by one law firm alone. The Bishop Selwyn Resort in downtown Paihia had an insurance value of $20m and was listed for sale in June 2025 for $5.6m. Norman says while there are challenges to selling a timeshare unit, where the market lies is in the bricks and mortar.

Police were called to the scene near Petone at 5.17am. Serious crash closes State Highway 2 near WellingtonPolice were called to the scene near Petone at 5.17am. Police were called to the scene near Petone at 5.17am. State Highway 2 heading northbound near Petone is closed as a result. State Highway 2 southbound has one lane open, although motorists are being advised to expect heavy delays.

University of Auckland research fellow Ying Wang believes New Zealand schools are ill-prepared to address trauma. “There might be short-term funding or support for a group of people or a community immediately after a traumatic event. “Healing is a process; there’s no fixed timeline after a traumatic event. “People working in the schools have beautiful hearts and are really caring towards our young people, but they don’t have support. Coroner Tetitaha recommended Te Whatu Ora extend frontline mental health service Te Roopu Kimiora’s school liaison roles into secondary schools throughout Northland.

White Robe Lodge has announced the death of proven stallion Ghibellines. A son of champion sire Shamardal and the group 1-winning Elusive Quality mare Camarilla, Ghibellines’ racing highlight was his victory in the group 2 Todman Stakes for trainer Peter Snowden. Retired to stud in 2016, Ghibellines sired group1 winner Smokin’ Romans, last season’s group 2 Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino and $A1.5 million earner Palmetto among nine stakes winners at a very respectable 4.3% stakes winners to runners. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Mr Albanese said he had not seen the footage and had “no idea” what the radio host was talking about. The rally Anthony Albanese attended took place in Sydney. The interview took a further turn for the worse when Elelman questioned whether Wilson Security was guarding Australian military bases while servicemen were off for Christmas. Albanese did not confirm or deny that was true, saying that “today was not a day to question our Defence Force”. “I think I’ve not made the Prime Minister have a very Merry Christmas, but then again, that wasn’t my intention,” she said.

Nigeria’s Government and independent analysts reject framing the country’s violence in terms of religious persecution – a narrative long used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe. Thursday's attacks mark the first by US forces in Nigeria under President Donald Trump. The United States this year placed Nigeria back on the list of countries of “particular concern” regarding religious freedom and has restricted the issuance of visas to Nigerians. Trump last month also threatened to stop all aid to Abuja if it “continues to allow the killing of Christians”. On Wednesday an explosion ripped through a mosque in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing at least seven worshippers.

We’re well-positioned for the recovery, but I think it would be a mistake to count on any swift economic turnaround. It will undoubtedly improve but I’m not expecting it to be a boom time, at least in the short term. I don’t think I’ve got there yet but I’m planning on the turnaround of Fletcher Building being my greatest success. I’ll be staying close to home and getting to all the things I’ve been neglecting this year, like going to the gym! I’ve also been re-reading his I, Robot series, which feels particularly topical right now given the rise of AI.

Initially, Scott could only move his eyes, and his tears showed he could hear and understand what was going on around him. Battle over ongoing rehabilitation continuesScott has since made impressive progress, defying his diagnosis. Ryan Scott says no one used to second-guess him because he was a big, muscly guy who knew what he wanted. Scott is eligible for support through the Ministry of Social Development’s Disability Support Services (DSS), deputy chief executive Anne Shaw says. But Demelza is concerned Scott won’t have enough funding to cover both his day-to-day care and his ongoing therapy.

As if somehow your weight loss doesn’t count if it wasn’t a struggle to get there. What taking weight loss medication has taught me, though, is that we are not all fighting the same battle when it comes to food. Melissa Nightingale: I weighed 113kg at my heaviest (pictured) before starting on weight loss medications. For the first time in my life, I stopped thinking about exercise in relation to weight loss and started going to the gym because I just wanted to be fitter. Weight loss medication changed my relationship with food and, maybe more importantly, taught me to be kinder to myself over my own limitations.

“There is a chance that as we get right in close to the evening of New Year’s Eve, things clear up a bit in the north of the North Island, so you might get lucky if you’re up there,” Martino said. “But certainly, for a lot of us it’s going to be a damp few days.”Martino also said cooler-than-average temperatures are expected across the South Island during this period. “Overnight lows [are] getting down to 5 or 6C for some of those southern and inland South Island places. “Might be noticeable if you’re in a tent for your festival weekend.”In contrast, Martino said temperatures in the North Island are expected to remain around average for the time of year. On Friday afternoon, parts of the eastern South Island were placed under a severe thunderstorm watch, including Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland.

A ship from Mexico had docked at Port of Tauranga with two containers declared as scrap metal, raising eyebrows among Customs officials. Customs staff also found multiple tracking devices, such as Apple AirTags, scattered among the Mexican meth worth an estimated $63 million. There was a cellphone number listed for the person who wanted to buy the scrap metal from the importer. Operation Fix found 174kg of methamphetamine hidden inside a shipping container of scrap metal in July 2024. About a week after the 174kg of meth was discovered in the scrap metal, Gonzalez-Reyes was arrested at Auckland Airport.

Here are the top pay packets at the top private schools. St Kentigern, a network of four private schools in Auckland, has been found to pay its senior staff – mostly principals – an average of more than $370,000 a year. Its combined roll of 3506 makes it easily the largest private school in the country and among the largest schools in New Zealand. $205,875 ($1.6m, 8)Founded in 1850, Christ’s is the oldest private school in the country and was modelled on the upper crust of the English public school system. Half the size of its crosstown private rival St Andrew’s, the elder institution still boasts – outside eccentric colossus Dilworth – the country’s largest private school investment portfolio.

We’ll see in 2026 whether that support holds (Labour may vote against the RMA at third reading but not vow to repeal it). Labour's Rachel Brooking has come to the fore when considering candidates for politician of the year. Ardern won politician of the year in part because she won elections (two of her politician of the year victories coincided with elections). Rightly or wrongly, it’s hung like an albatross around the neck of the Labour Party. Associate Finance Minister, Transport Minister, Housing Minister, RMA Reform Minister, Bishop has very obviously donned the mantle of “minister of everything”.

Harness racing journalist Jonny Turner has found five horses that look well placed to deliver gifts for keen holiday punters. The 4-year-old returned to racing at Winton recently and ran an excellent second, importantly making a good beginning. It is probably an understatement to say that moving from barrier 14 to barrier 2 will be a big help at Gore. As far as each-way plays go, Tua Lipa looks as good as any at Gore. PYRAMID ROSERace 11An excellent third placing at the recent Harness 5000 meeting at Ashburton has this mare primed for a big Gore outing.

The Super Smash might have an uncertain future but the Sparks seem keen to go out with a bang. Otago yesterday announced the signings of two overseas players for what could be the last domestic T20 season as we know it if New Zealand Cricket decides to let overseas interests take over. Veteran Australian top-order batter Laura Harris and English medium-pacer Eva Gray are expected to make their first appearances for the Sparks when they play Canterbury in Alexandra tomorrow. The elder Harris is known for her clean ball-striking and ability to apply pressure from the outset, and those attributes and her experience should be vital for a Sparks team missing some big guns. The Sparks play the Canterbury Magicians at Molyneux Park tomorrow, and remain in Alexandra to play the Central Hinds on Tuesday.