Health authorities have issued a high alert after multiple people were hospitalised in Auckland following the use of synthetic cannabis products, raising concerns about a dangerous batch circulating in the community. Authorities stressed that synthetic cannabinoids vary significantly in potency and impact, making them especially dangerous. “What may be a safe dose for one synthetic cannabinoid might be a fatal dose of another,” High Alert said. In severe cases, “People may collapse or ‘drop’, foam from the mouth, or experience temporary paralysis,” High Alert said. High Alert also encouraged people who use synthetic drugs to access free and confidential drug-checking services, including those provided by KnowYourStuffNZ, the New Zealand Drug Foundation and DISC Trust.

All you’re doing is preventing that crossover in your action. So the straighter you can run with your arms, the straighter your action can be at delivery. If it’s on the bike or off feet, if you’re injured like me now, or even doing interval running. I actually got a lot of wrist position and finger placement from the now coach of the Black Caps, Rob Walter. Obviously, New Zealand Cricket work a lot with bowling loads, but it comes down to the action and getting strong for the younger kids as well.

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonThe High Court has ruled Canterbury's regional council erred when it allowed farms to discharge nitrates and other pollution without resource consents, but stopped short of ordering it to change the rule. The rule - rule 5.63 (Incidental Nutrient Discharges) - had "cemented the conditions for ongoing intensive farming even as nitrate pollution was already mounting", Hall said. The organisation sought the removal of the rule, as well as other declarations about the law, but the court declined. Llast year, the High Court ruled the council unlawfully granted a discharge consent to the Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Ltd (ALIL) irrigation scheme, quashing the consent. RNZ has approached the regional council for comment.

Roma Daravi, vice-president of public relations at the centre, in a statement to the Post, defended the renaming, saying the “bipartisan Trump Kennedy Centre is here for generations to come”. “The Kennedy Memorial is not impacted at all,” Daravi said. Today, the centre’s website prominently referred to itself as the “Trump Kennedy Centre”, but in other sections it continued to use the name “the Kennedy Centre”. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy jnr is an ex-officio member of the centre’s board. “Some things leave you speechless,” Maria Shriver, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said on X.

Do you have to work a public holiday? You usually can only be required to work public holidays if it is stated in your employment agreement and the public holiday is on a day you will normally work. If you would not normally work but volunteer to, you might only get time-and-a-half. This year, Christmas Day is a Thursday so the Thursday and Friday are public holidays, as well as the Thursday and Friday the following week. Public holidays during a closedown still need to be paid if they fall on days that would otherwise be working days.

NSW Premier Chris Minns in the Legislative Assembly at Parliament House in Sydney. Photo: ReutersControversial anti-protest laws and tightened gun rules have passed after a marathon parliamentary debate running into the early hours of Christmas Eve. NSW Premier Chris Minns succeeded in pushing through legislation to cap gun ownership, limit magazine capacity and tighten regulation around licences after the Bondi terrorist attack that left 15 people dead. The laws passed with a last-minute amendment from the Greens to ban gun ownership for anyone investigated for terrorism-related offences, as well as members of their households. "Today's decision reflects the community's expectation that gun laws be rigorous, responsible and focused on public safety," he said.

Nelson elder care nurse Nithin Mankeel with his wife Aparna Jayandhan Geetha and five-year-old son Aidhan Nithin. Photo: SuppliedA Nelson nurse says he is living in fear as he tries to stop the deportation of his autistic child. Mankeel moved to New Zealand from India in January 2024, followed by his wife and son later that year. A second petition is calling on the House of Representatives to abolish the Acceptable Standard of Health immigration requirements. "We understand the challenges faced by Mr Mankeel and his family; however, immigration health requirements are very specific and can only be waived through ministerial intervention.

Here's a guide to what is and isn't open on Christmas Day. Christmas Day is one of four restricted trading days in New Zealand (Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and until 1pm on Anzac Day), meaning almost all retail shops will be closed. Select KFC stores, McDonald's, Domino's and Pizza Hut will be open on Christmas Day. If you need your Christmas Day tipple, it's a good idea to stock up early as no takeaway alcohol is sold or supplied on Christmas Day. HOYTS Cinemas are open on Christmas Day at select cinemas in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch.

As the video begins, Brown said his plans for the Christmas season were to escape the City of Sails and enjoy some time up north. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick was a guest in Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s Christmas message. Photo / Wayne BrownBrown’s advice for Christmas Day was to keep politics out of the festivities. “Best to keep politics out of Christmas,” Brown said. Shortly after in the video, Swarbrick arrived at his door and provided partygoers with some safety advice for the festival season.

File photo: ODTA fire has destroyed a home and left one person injured in the Christchurch suburb of Mairehau. Up to four crews were called to Kellys Road shortly before 5am on Wednesday to find the single-storey property well ablaze. Fire and Emergency said the fire encroached onto the next-door unit, causing minor damage. A person has been taken to hospital in a moderate condition. A fire investigator is heading to the scene this morning.

“High Alert recommends extreme caution if consuming synthetic cannabinoids, especially in the Auckland region at this time,” the warning said. The alert recommended people who do choose to take synthetic cannabinoids lower their dosage, avoid combining the substance with other drugs and avoid using it alone. High Alert said it is unknown which chemical is responsible for the current wave of harm but testing is being carried out by PHF Science. People who have information should make anonymous reports through the High Alert website using alert ID N25/0056. More information on synthetic cannabinoids is available on the NZ Drug Foundation’s website, The Level.

A 14-year-old boy swam for his life in Lake Taupō after a boat fire. A 14-year-old boy swam for his life in Lake Taupō after a boat fire. Photo / Libby Kirkby-McLeod, RNZBy RNZA teenager was left swimming for his life in Lake Taupō while rescue helicopter calls were delayed by police, RNZ has learned. Police stood down a rescue helicopter crew that had rapidly assembled after a burning boat was spotted in Lake Taupō on Sunday evening. The crew quickly spotted a 14-year-old boy who had leapt from the boat and threw him a life-ring.

A report into facial recognition systems used on shoppers shows teenagers are the worst offenders for threatening supermarket staff. The company said the preponderance of teenagers among offenders did not undermine its expectation that adult-only facial recognition was a good way of combating the issue. The trial is also helping us understand the operational impacts and processes involved with using facial recognition in our stores." Facial recognition was a proportionate response because North Island supermarket trial had been effective at reducing serious threatening behaviour, the privacy assessment said. Facial recognition relies on biometrics, like a person's face or fingerprints.

Photo: RNZOne person has died after a house fire in New Plymouth early on Christmas Eve. Emergency services were called to a property on Trelawney Cres about 2.30am today after reports of a house fire. A person was found deceased, police confirmed. A scene examination is continuing at the property. Police will work alongside Fire and Emergency NZ to determine the circumstances of the fire.

The person of interest abandoned the first vehicle and got into a second one. Another pursuit was authorised but was also abandoned after a short time. The second vehicle then crashed into a car on Queen St about 2.20pm before fleeing again. Just before 2.30pm, the vehicle that had been followed by police came to a stop on Prouse St. One person was tasered and taken into custody, while two others were also apprehended. Police ask anyone who witnessed this incident or has footage to contact them via 105, either over the phone or online, using reference number P064901318.