PHOTO: SUPPLIEDDunedin city councillors uniting to fight cuts to the new Dunedin hospital could provide a chance to raise sorrowful approval ratings for the council, the city’s mayor says. Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich was elected in October after the previous mayor and councillors plummeted to as low as a 25% approval rating in the Dunedin City Council’s residents’ opinion survey. Over the previous term, when Mr Radich was a first-term councillor, the council often appeared divided over a range of issues. "I certainly hope that public satisfaction with the mayor and councillors improves over the course of 2023," Mr Radich said. All of the councillors’ replies were in support of "retaining the full suite of structures and services for the new hospital", Mr Radich said.

The light display caused a fire to start in the area and scorched a hillTony Malkin set off fireworks at his retreat near Queenstown in New ZealandAn American billionaire's controversial New Year's Eve fireworks has started a bushfire in a rural area of New Zealand following protests from locals against his festive plans. Tony Malkin, chief executive of Empire State Realty Trust, which owns the landmark, was hosting a party at his luxury hilltop retreat in Dalefield, a rural area on the outskirts of Queenstown. Firefighters were called to Mr Malkin's property just 10 minutes later and spent several hours putting out the blaze. Mr Malkin has not apologised for going ahead with the fireworks or publicly acknowledged the fire. Mr Malkin's office did not respond to requests for comment before New Year's Eve.

A video is circulating online of an NZ Police vehicle being rescued from a ditch after a failed u-turn attempt. Photo / SuppliedA video is circulating online of an NZ Police vehicle being rescued from a ditch after a failed u-turn attempt. Photo / SuppliedA video of a New Zealand police vehicle being rescued from a ditch after a failed U-turn is circulating online. Photo / SuppliedA police spokesperson confirmed that about 5pm yesterday, “a police vehicle slid on loose metal during a U-turn and went into a ditch on Hauraki Rd in Paeroa”. “The officer wasn’t injured and there is no damage to the vehicle,” Police said.

Video of the bouncy castle that blew away during a New Year's festival in Tauranga. Patrons have described chaotic scenes that unfolded when a seemingly joyous bouncy castle turned into a rolling terror on New Year’s Eve in Tauranga. READ MORE:* Person hospitalised after bouncy castle incident in Tauranga* Where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Otautahi Christchurch* Tasmanian family’s double heartache revealed at son’s funeralHe was with his son near the castle when it started moving, he said. The castle then moved about 10m, before a person appeared to have been thrown out, he added. Supplied A still from video of the bouncy castle as it blew away during a New Year's festival in Tauranga.

At least five people have been injured when a jumping castle was launched into the air at a New Year’s Eve event in New Zealand. Crowds had gathered at Fergusson Park in Tauranga for the Matua New Year’s Eve community celebration when a massive wind gust sent the jumping castle tumbling 100 metres. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The horrifying moment a jumping castle is sent flying. Another witness reported seeing a person “land heavily” after falling from the castle. Witnesses reported the castle travelling about 100 metres throughout the festival before the crowd were able to stop it.

‘Severe’ marine heatwave to hit South Island watersWest Coast waters are set to reach 18.4C this week. (File photo)The water temperature in the South Island is set to soar this week as a marine heatwave sweeps the West Coast. It’s expected to reach a whopping 18.4C – five degrees hotter than the average water temperature for this time of year. A marine heatwave is when water temperatures stay in the warmest 10% of what has been historically observed for at least five days. “Last year, a similarly warm marine heatwave in Fiordland reached great depths and caused widespread bleaching of sea sponges,” he said.

Bottom trawlers venturing close to shore ‘killing it’ for recreational fishersThe “Leila Jo” at Taumutu near Southbridge in mid-December 2022. Recreational fisherman Wayne McCarthy was long-lining on the beach near Ashburton when a commercial fishing boat glided past, snapping his longline as he scrambled to bring it back to shore. It was the first time he had encountered a trawler so close to his usual fishing spot, between the Rangitata and Hinds rivers. “Obviously this trawler was operating legally, but ethically it’s wrong,” he said. Read the full story by Keiller MacDuff, Jan 02 2023, on Stuff.co.nz

Photo / George NovakBeachgoers in the lower half of the country can rejoice, with an approaching marine heatwave expected to bring “balmy sea temperatures”. Difference between forecast and average long-term sea surface temperatures. Then, surface temperatures are forecast to reach 18.4C, compared to the 13.5C average – a difference of almost 5C.”Sea surface temperature forecast. Photo / MetOceanHe said this will be good news for holidaymakers, who will get to enjoy balmy sea temperatures. “Abnormally warm sea temperatures can potentially harm marine life,” he said.

Here are my tips to make separation a little easier. Once you’re living apart, people start to move on with their lives, which can create new issues. But if you can, try to maintain a good relationship. The more peacefully you can work through your separation together, the more quickly you can move on with your new lives. • Jeremy Sutton is a senior family lawyer, specialising in divorce cases where there are significant assets, including family trusts and complex business structures.

Photo / Getty ImagesKristalina Georgieva said the strong US labour market was likely to help it outperform most other major economies. Photo / Getty ImagesA third of the global economy will be hit by recession this year, the head of the IMF has said, as she warned that the world faces a “tougher” year in 2023 than the previous 12 months. The US, European Union and China are all slowing simultaneously, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said. “We expect one-third of the world economy to be in recession,” Georgieva told US TV network CBS in an interview that aired on Sunday, adding that “half of the European Union will be in a recession” this year. “If that resilience...holds [in 2023], the US would help the world to get through a very difficult year,” she said.

At least five people have been injured when a bouncy castle was shot up at a New Year’s Eve event in New Zealand. Crowds had gathered at Fergusson Park in Tauranga for the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Matua when a violent gust of wind sent the bouncy castle falling 100 meters. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The terrifying moment a bouncy castle is thrown through the air. Another witness reported seeing a person “land hard” after falling from the castle. Witnesses reported that the castle drove about 100 meters throughout the festival before the crowd could stop it.

At least five people have been injured when a jumping castle was launched into the air at a New Year’s Eve event in New Zealand. Crowds had gathered at Fergusson Park in Tauranga for the Matua New Year’s Eve community celebration when a massive wind gust sent the jumping castle tumbling 100m. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The horrifying moment a jumping castle is sent flying. Another witness reported seeing a person “land heavily” after falling from the castle. Witnesses reported the castle travelling about 100m throughout the festival before the crowd were able to stop it.

'I look in the mirror and say I am good-looking': The secret routines of Kiwi high-flyers31 Dec 04:00 PM

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “Effects of climate change on the Hawke’s Bay coastline in 100 years | Local Focus” – below is their description. The coastline is undeniably a treasure for Hawke’s Bay. Thousands of people live along the Hawke’s Bay coast, but climate change and rising sea levels are putting their homes at risk. It’s predicted that sea levels will rise by more than a metre over the next century. Full story: https://bit.ly/lf1490Subscribe and be notified of breaking news: https://goo.gl/LP45jXCheck out our playlists: https://goo.gl/Swd249Like NZ Herald on Facebook: https://goo.gl/tUC4oqFollow NZ Herald on Instagram: https://goo.gl/oLicXeFollow NZ Herald on Twitter: https://goo.gl/Wi6mbvnzherald.co.nz YouTube Channel

Christchurch Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns. Photo / SuppliedChristchurch Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns finishes in the role at the end of the year and in 2023 will lead Genesis Energy. For Christchurch Airport it’s been a hell of a decade - earthquakes, a tragic terror attack, the Port Hills fire and global pandemics. Many people were interested by Christchurch Airport forming a partnership with Hamburg Airport to work together on further decarbonisation of airports. * The airport’s current chief aeronautical and commercial officer Justin Watson will replace Johns as chief executive.