Countdown stores are experiencing payment problems. Photo / Hayden WoodwardCountdown stores are experiencing payment issues today, the supermarket operator has confirmed. Both Newshub and Stuff are reporting issues with paywave and Apple Pay at Auckland stores in Botany, Mt Wellington, Point Chevalier, Ponsonby and Greenlane, as well as stores in Wellington and Nelson. A Countdown spokeswoman told the Herald the cause of the network issue impacted a number of systems across Countdown this morning, it had been addressed and the company is working with its partners to return to normal as quickly as possible. NZ Eftpos told Stuff its payment terminals and network were fully operational, and there were no active issues.

Jacinda Ardern has seen her lead in the polls steadily eroded over the course of this yearMany voters believe the prime minister revealed her true self with a coarse remark in parliament, which is bad news for her attempt to secure a third term in officeNew Zealanders are used to their prime minister asking them to be nice to each other. At the height of the pandemic the message “Be strong, be kind” was plastered everywhere from school noticeboards to the big screen at Eden Park rugby ground. It encapsulated Jacinda Ardern’s popular brand of empathetic but decisive leadership as she moved swiftly to shut the borders and keep the new coronavirus out. “Whatever happened to the “be kind” mantra,” wrote one critic on Twitter. Hot mic moment: New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern calls minor opposition party leader an ‘arrogant prick'David Seymour, leader of the right-wing Act

Photo / Te Korimako o TaranakiFormerly based on respect, the ban now has legal teeth. The two-year legal ban begins today, just before the summer holidays, when hapū of Taranaki iwi feared a fresh assault on seafood stocks. The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries David Parker acknowledged hapū concerns over “the erosion of kaimoana resources along the Taranaki coast. Kaumātua Mahara Okeroa is over the moon with the legal ban on kaimoana gathering. All but one hapū of Ngāruahine have requested another s186A legal ban over another 30 kilometres of coastline as far as Hāwera.

How would we know it was the week before Christmas without a deluge of recap lists inviting us all to remember the highs, lows and everything in between from the year that’s been? This year in politics has

Croatia's Mislav Orsic celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup third-place playoff. Photo / APCroatia's Mislav Orsic celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup third-place playoff. Photo / APLuka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup. After becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, Morocco’s tournament ended in two losses. The World Cup final between defending champion France and Argentina is scheduled for tomorrow at Lusail Stadium.

Police at the scene last night. Photo: NZ HeraldOne person has been critically hurt after a disorder incident in Christchurch on Saturday night. Police said they received a report of disorder in the eastern suburb of Aranui about 10.05pm. “One person sustained critical injuries and was transported to hospital,” a police spokeswoman confirmed. She told The New Zealand Herald it was not a shooting incident.

Thieves drained $150,000 from the victim's accounts, then used his credit cards to purchase up to $70,000 of Prezzy Cards at service stations. Thieves drained $150,000 from the victim's accounts, then used his credit cards to purchase up to $70,000 of Prezzy Cards at service stations. They pretended to be his friends but were instead pilfering money from his online bank accounts. Cyber criminals gained access to the man's computer and used the pensioner's webcam to spy on him for seven hours. They also questioned why an 82-year-old man purchasing $70,000 in Prezzy Cards in the space of a few hours had not raised any red flags with the banks.

In doing so, I find myself lamenting the state of most of the things that we once took for granted. Those distractions include a desire to be seen leading on the international stage. It’s taken a generation to ruin our once world-class education system and it will take a generation at least to turn it around fully. Many of those who will apply are already here, working in the health system and facing an anxious wait for such news. Distractions that include Three Waters, the media merger, health system centralisation, tertiary centralisation, and meaningless climate change initiatives.

Debris can be seen swirling as a tornado hits near the Central Otago town of Alexandra on Saturday. A house has lost its roof and several others have been damaged after a tornado hit near the Central Otago town of Alexandra. A police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the scene on the outskirts at Leaning Rock Rd, Springvale, about 6.30pm. Email newstips@stuff.co.nzIt appeared the tornado had hit and blown the roof off one house and damaged up to four others, but that was yet to be confirmed, she said. Sarah-Jane Kitto/Stuff A tornado that ripped the roof off a house in Alexandra, Central Otago.

The forecast comes as wet and muggy weather in the past week has dampened some Kiwis’ hopes of a sunny Christmas, but forecasters remain “optimistic” a shift is coming. “As we get closer to Christmas settled weather is on the way … it should be improving in the middle part of next week and into Christmas,” Brandolino said. “I’m most optimistic for the South Island, still optimistic for the upper North Island, just not quite as much. “We’ve been expecting an increase in humidity, especially for the North Island because of La Niña. The North Island could expect some gloomy days but temperatures will likely remain warmer than average, especially at night.

Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. The victim's co-worker wrapped up the spate of terror by dumping the lifeless body into a man-made rubbish pit. The murder took place only weeks before his wife Sarah was due to give birth to their third child together. On the night of the murder, Ramsay was out in the local town and messaged another farmer asking for a lift.

Japan’s decision to discharge nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean for the next 30 years has been condemned by a Pacific alliance. Three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had meltdowns after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 which left more than 15,000 people dead. “New Zealand is a Pacific nation and our region bears the scars of decades of nuclear testing. “This issue is complex and relates to nuclear safety rather than nuclear weapons or nuclear disarmament,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement on Friday. Japan has been decommissioning and decontaminating the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “SPCA is already at capacity, and bracing for a summer influx | Local Focus” – below is their description. Dozens of kittens and puppies in Rotorua are looking for their forever home – but they are not alone, as SPCAs around the country brace for an influx of animals over summer. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. Full story: https://bit.ly/lf1487 Subscribe and be notified of breaking news: https://goo.gl/LP45jX Check out our playlists: https://goo.gl/Swd249 Like NZ Herald on Facebook: https://goo.gl/tUC4oq Follow NZ Herald on Instagram: https://goo.gl/oLicXe Follow NZ Herald on Twitter: https://goo.gl/Wi6mbv nzherald.co.nz YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Please note comments are moderated before publication.

Duncan Greive looks back over a chaotic, enthralling year of stories in New Zealand’s media. The media by its very nature generates an outsize number of stories. It flings together opposing forces and tries to make sense of them. It’s naturally on the bleeding edge of changes in technology and ...

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “What’s on the Christmas menu for NZ’s top chefs | nzherald.co.nz” – below is their description. Indulge festival chefs Sean Connolly, Nic Watt, Michael Dearth, Aki Nakamura, Croydon Cole, Jess Granada and Richard Highnam reveal what their Christmas Day plans are, and more importantly what’s on the menu. Full story: https://bit.ly/3YihSIT Subscribe and be notified of breaking news: https://goo.gl/LP45jX Check out our playlists: https://goo.gl/Swd249 Like NZ Herald on Facebook: https://goo.gl/tUC4oq Follow NZ Herald on Instagram: https://goo.gl/oLicXe Follow NZ Herald on Twitter: https://goo.gl/Wi6mbv nzherald.co.nz YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.