Photo: Getty Image (file)Investors are being warned to "fully inform themselves" before giving businessman Bernard Whimp or anyone associated with Christchurch-based investment firm Chance Voight any more money. It was reported earlier this month the Financial Markets Authority was looking into Chance Voight Investment Corporation, as well as subsidiaries, persons and entities associated with the Chance Voight Group. The High Court in Christchurch appointed PWC as interim liquidators at the request of the FMA. The FMA said it understood Whimp had contacted investors about the interim liquidation and sought payments, which he described as donations to fund legal expenses. Whimp rose to prominence in the 2010s for making off-market offers to buy shares from investors at below their market value.

“From what I’ve seen this is an agreement worth supporting, while it may not be anything we anted” he said. O’Connor reiterated Peters’ concerns about dairy, but said a deal with the world’s most populous nation was significant, even without dairy access. During the Clark Government, in which Peters also served as foreign minister, Peters opposed Trade Minister Phil Goff’s trade deal with China. India is notoriously protective of its domestic dairy sector and the deal has not managed to significantly increase access to New Zealand dairy exports. “The result is a high-quality trade agreement with a trusted partner that will deliver deep and lasting benefits for New Zealand.”Trade deal highlights:

The Suzuki Fronx during testing. PHOTO: ANCAP / SUPPLIEDSuzuki Fronx owners are being warned not to carry passengers in the back seat after the seat belt failed a lab crash test. The New Zealand Transport Agency warned a similar failure in an on-road crash could cause serious injury or even death for rear seat passengers. The company said it was urgently reviewing the ANCAP testing outcomes "at the highest levels of the organisation" with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan and Suzuki Australia. The Fronx was certified as meeting Australia and New Zealand safety standards, it said.

Six people have been taken to hospital following a head-on crash in Queenstown. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said crews were called after reports of a two-car collision on the Queenstown-Glenorchy Rd, in the suburb of Fernhill, about 6.20pm today. Three fire appliances and two ambulances were sent to the scene, as well as police. A Hato Hone St John spokesman said six patients were taken to Lakes District Hospital - three with moderate injuries and three in a minor condition. The road is fully blocked and Queenstown Lakes District Council staff were getting to the scene.

Photo: Composite photo / NZMEA teenage stepmum who inflicted such severe fatal abdominal injuries on a toddler that it split the girl's pancreas, has won a bid to have the Supreme Court reassess her jail sentence. She was also found guilty of injuring with intent to injure after strangling Harlee-Rose five months before she died in April 2022. The Court of Appeal judges said that while another judge may have given slightly more discount for her young age and mental health at the time, they would not. Dutch then turned to the Supreme Court, and in a decision released today, it granted Mulford leave to appeal her sentence on the grounds of "whether the Court of Appeal was correct to dismiss the appeal". The senior court also found that Justice Campbell was cognisant of the limitations of Mulford's mental health report, and ruled that her sentence was not manifestly excessive and dismissed the appeal.

Last year Chung posted a news article profiling Cadence to his Facebook page, writing “extremely proud of my nephew’s daughter, Cadence”. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little called Ray Chung to state his expectations, saying Chung will now declare his potential conflict at the next committee meeting. Photo / Mark Mitchell“Cr Chung did not declare a potential conflict of interest when this was discussed by the committee. In my view a declaration should have been made, but I do not think this would’ve warranted him being excluded from the meeting,” Little said in a statement. Grants subcommittee chair Nicola Young says councillors should take potential conflicts seriously.

New Zealand Cavaliers girls assisted NZ U18 path to victory by knocking out second seeds Australia U18 33-24 in the quarter-finals. Then in the semis Cavaliers beat a useful Rugby Vault Rugby team, co-captained by Rotorua’s Kaiarihi Puku and Hamilton’s Matilda Chandler, 29-12. New Zealand's Koiatarau Edwards on her way to the tryline in the girls' final. The U18 girls coach Blair Baxter described the title win as “a pretty special performance and special week”. The NZ U18 Girls earlier beat Central Storm 26-10 in a morning quarter-final.

Regardless of when New Zealand’s fast bowling stocks are replenished, Duffy now stands tall as an undroppable member of the Black Caps across all three formats. The West Indies, meanwhile, made it clear early on that victory was not in their thinking and instead opted to try to bat out the final day. The West Indies languish last on the ladder with four points from eight completed tests to begin the new cycle. The Black Caps celebrate the wicket of Kavem Hodge on day five of the third test against the West Indies. The Black Caps can now enjoy Christmas and the New Year off before travelling to India for three ODIs and five T20s in the second week of January.

For… pic.twitter.com/Jd3YLuLPxM — MetService NZ (@MetService) December 21, 2025MetService reported the front will stall, with rain expected to be heaviest west of Taupō. A strong wind watch was due to come into effect for Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay from 6am. Heavy rain watches have also been issued for the Tararua Range from 2am tomorrow, and the coastal hills and ranges of the Buller and Grey districts between Karamea and Greymouth from 9pm. “Weather on the west coast of the South Island will be more board games than barbecuing as an active front drags in some more rain,” Pawley said. Winds are also expected to pick up about Canterbury High Country.”He said the best Christmas weather is expected to be found on the east coast.

PHOTO: RNZA couple who regretted their decision to fix their home loan for five years in 2023 have been unsuccessful in their complaint against their bank. It said the couple fixed their home loan for one year in 2021 and 2022. The couple said the bank had misled and pressured them into refixing the loan for five years. "I did have a case last month where a client had fixed his loan in for five years with his bank directly at 6.39%. "Once we had his break fees on his mortgage, we ran figures through our break cost benefit calculator.

Police were called to a beach north of Napier on Monday. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Police were called to a beach north of Napier on Monday. Photo / NZMEPolice are at the scene of a sudden death on a stretch of coastline north of Napier. They were called to the beach between Hawke’s Bay Airport and Bay View about 2.30pm on Monday.

Cheese dumped as a landfill has been resold in Waikato. The cheese was supposedly taken from Putāruru Landfill and found for sale in the Waikato town on Sunday. “Selling dumped cheese is illegal and a food safety risk to public health. New Zealand Food Safety is investigating,” said Arbuckle. Over the Moon registered farmers’ marketsHamilton Farmers’ Market at ClaudelandsWedge Mobile Fromagerie – Hokowhitu Farmers’ Market (first and third Sunday of month)Wedge Mobile Fromagerie – Feilding Farmers’ Market (every Friday)Over the Moon registered Waikato retail stockists

Emergency services attend the crash that has left State Highway 1 closed north of Hampden today. Photo: Nic DuffTwo people were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries after a van rolled off the road near Oamaru this morning. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they were notified of the single-vehicle crash in Herbert-Hampden Rd, Hampden, at 9am. Two patients were assessed at the scene and transported to hospital by helicopter in a moderate condition, the spokesperson said. The van appeared to have rolled off the road and one of its two occupants had been trapped inside.

A knife-wielding Dunedin man allegedly lashed out at police with his teeth leaving one officer in hospital with bite wounds. CCTV footage revealed the man had driven to the business in an allegedly stolen vehicle, Snr Sgt Bond said. The man was handcuffed and restrained, but while being searched began "kicking and pulling against police", Snr Sgt Bond said. The man allegedly tried to bite a fourth officer while being transferred to the police vehicle. There had been previous interactions and court proceedings between the 30-year-old man and the Bridgman St business, Snr Sgt Bond said.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Photo: RNZFinance Minister Nicola Willis will not be standing for an electorate seat at the next election. At the last election, Willis campaigned for the Wellington electorate of Ōhāriu, which was narrowly won by Labour's Greg O'Connor with 17,565 votes to Willis' 16,305. The electorate will next year be split into the new seats of Kenepuru and Kāpiti, which replace Mana and Ōtaki. Willis said the economy was growing again and inflation had come down as a result of the government's plan.