Search out the secluded Oku Iya Ni-jū Kazura-bashi vine bridges, hanging side by side over the Iya Valley. Shikoku seldom makes it onto most international visitors’ travel itineraries of Japan, even though the island has much to offer. Head to the remote Iya Valley to stay in an 18th-century thatched farmhouse and to raft the upper reaches of the Yoshino River. READ MORE:* Takamatsu, Japan: A tour with Udon Taxis takes noodle lovers to the hottest spots* Japan's Shikoku Island pilgrimage: The Japanese equivalent of Spain's Camino de SantiagoLonely Planet Lonely Planet, Offbeat, 100 amazing places away from the tourist trail. Search out the secluded Oku Iya Ni-jū Kazura-bashi vine bridges, hanging side by side over the Iya Valley.

The armed offenders squad and other armed police were in Beach Haven on Monday afternoon after an earlier armed call-out in Huapai, West Auckland– causing five more schools and a daycare to go into lockdown. Five schools said they went into lockdown: Birkdale Intermediate, Beach Haven Primary School, Chelsea Primary School, Birkdale North Primary School and Verran Primary School. Chris Mckeen/Stuff Armed Police at a property on Lancaster Road in Beach Haven, Auckland. “We will not be releasing any children until advised by police,” Beach Haven Primary School said in a post to their Facebook page earlier. At least eight police cars were at the scene in Beach Haven, with three armed officers at the cordon on the corner of Lancaster Road and Beach Haven Road.

People are sending birthday and greeting cards by courier to avoid lengthy postal service delays, the postal union says. He called on the Government to seek the views of the public on whether they were getting what they needed from NZ Post. A NZ Post spokesperson said it would not comment on the allegations while the petition was with the select committee. Earlier this year, NZ Post increased pay rates for entry-level positions by 18.5% after struggling to attract new recruits. In 2020, the Government committed $130m over three years to support the mail service, but that funding runs out next year.

In an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News former Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov claims Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine is a "bluff" and predicts the collapse... The Government has imposed a fresh round of sanctions on the political and economic elite of Russia and Belarus, including Russian President Vladimir Putin's two daughters. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said it was the fourth set of sanctions, targeting an extra 22 members of Putin’s inner circle. Aleksey Babushkin/AP Members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle are the targets of the latest round of sanctions. Handout/Getty Images The wife and children of Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov Dmitry Peskov are included in the latest round of sanctions.

The Rotorua woman accused of murdering her infant son while the country was in level 4 lockdown last August, can now be named as Melody Mamaengaroa Ngawhika​. “His mother, the defendant Melody Ngawhika, was holding him in her arms and she held his face firmly to her shoulder until he suffocated and died,” Gordon said. “I’ve done it, I’ve suffocated my baby.”DOMINICO ZAPATA/FAIRFAX NZ/Waikato Times Melody Ngawhika’s murder trial is taking place at the High Court in Rotorua. Gordon said a post-mortem revealed Elijah’s cause of death was asphyxia. Ngawhika’s lawyer, Fraser Wood, also raised infanticide in his brief opening address, also telling the jury there is “no dispute Ms Ngawhika killed her son”.

Photo: Getty ImagesBlack Ferns star Ruby Tui has been given a new World Cup winners medal to go with her breakthrough players gong claimed at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco. Tui gave away her World Cup winner’s medal to a young leukaemia survivor after beating England last Saturday in a thriller at Eden Park. Lucia had reportedly followed the Black Ferns throughout the World Cup and told Tui her dream was to become a Black Fern. Black Ferns great Fiao’o Fa’amausili was on hand at the awards today to give Tui a new winner’s medal. “I never knew about the Black Ferns growing up as a kid like most other women my age now.

Photo: NZ Herald/FileMaritime New Zealand will investigate an incident where three holiday-makers were taken to hospital by ambulance after a wave hit the boat they were in. A St John spokesman said two ambulances, a first response unit and a rapid response vehicle with a manager, took three people to Dunedin Hospital. Maritime New Zealand confirmed they would be investigating the incident. Port to Port Cruises and Wildlife Tours owner-operator Rachel McGregor said her company’s boat was undertaking a wildlife cruise when it was struck unexpectedly by a wave at the harbour entrance. She had been operating commercially in Otago Harbour for more than 18 years without incident, including in some very trying conditions.

Maru was charged by police and pleaded guilty to manslaughter as she appeared at the High Court at Gisborne on Friday. She then returned to find Mr Rangiwai still sitting on the lounge with his pants lowered and his diaper showing, Stuff reported. Maru began to yell at her father-in-law before she punched him in the head, flipped over a table, and demanded he shower. Mr Rangiwai asked her to stop beating him when he moved to a rocking chair. She also pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and will be sentenced in March.

First published onPhoto: Clement Mahoudeau/AFPBlack Ferns star Ruby Tui now has another gold medal around her neck after giving hers away during the Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park. Tui was presented another gold medal by former Black Ferns captain and recent Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Fiao'o Fa'amausili at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco. So this is my gold medal now, and I wouldn't have it any other way," Tui said. Other Black Ferns finalists included Maiakawanakaulani Roos for breakthrough 15s player of the year, Sylvia Brunt for women's try of the year and Woodman for women's 15s player of the year. Since the Rugby World Cup win, Tui's autobiography Straight Up is the hottest book in New Zealand, selling out at many of the busiest bookstores in the country.

The Christchurch City Council earlier said a decision about whether the Government would require the city to fluoridate would be made by the end of this year. READ MORE:* Christchurch faces 'complex challenge' to fluoridate the city's water* No timeframe for fluoridating Christchurch's water, while misinformation grows* Call on Christchurch water fluoridation by end of the year* Wellington due to have fluoride back in its water by September* Who pays for fluoridating Christchurch's water? Christchurch is the largest New Zealand city without water fluoridation and the lack of urgency to add it has dismayed dental experts. Christchurch City Council three waters boss Helen Beaumont said the council “is comfortable with this approach and the timeframe”. The ministry has not supplied the council with information about alternative options to water fluoridation, a ministry spokesperson said.

New Zealand’s first chief coroner, Neil MacLean, undertook several reforms of the system. New Zealand’s first chief coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, is being remembered for his compassion, the reforms he led and his moves towards more open discussions of suicide. Judge MacLean died on Friday. Coroner Sue Johnson said he did an extraordinary amount of work updating the coronial system when he was appointed New Zealand’s Chief Coroner in 2007. John Kirk-Anderson/Stuff Chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean during the inquest into the nine people who remain unidentified of those killed in the CTV building collapse during the Christchurch earthquake.

Black plumes of smoke filled a valley when a fire broke out at the Nelson Hospital about 8.45pm on Sunday. On Monday, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Nelson Marlborough spokesman Richard Liddicoat said the fire was in a courtyard outside the intensive psychiatric care unit. “Everything returned to normal pretty quickly.”Braden Fastier/Nelson Mail Emergency Services attend a fire on Nelson Hospital grounds at the Mental Health Unit on Sunday evening. Fire and Emergency NZ said three Nelson crews responded to a reported fire at Nelson Hospital about 8.45pm. A police spokesperson said Police were notified about 8.45pm of a fire in a courtyard at Nelson Hospital.

A man who fled from police in a stolen cop car on Saturday has been found and arrested. (File photo)A 28-year-old man who allegedly stole a police dog handler’s patrol car has now been arrested. The man allegedly took the vehicle in the Christchurch suburb of Hoon Hay about 7.50am on Saturday after fleeing from police and breaking free from a police dog’s bite. Police found the stolen vehicle abandoned in St Albans about 8.05am, but the man remained on the run. A police spokesperson said the man would face “a number of charges” and would appear in court “in due course”.

If you can’t grow a moustache for Movember, there are plenty of other ways to help out. Unlike Sam with his beautiful mo on the go,” they decided to hunt down an injured Mazda MX-5 to fix up and sell for Movember. “We chose Movember because we listen to George FM and heard about Brook Gibson’s efforts to raise money and awareness for Movember which inspired us to do something too. One of Duncan and Jury’s football teammates ended up coming back with the MX-5 – perfect timing for summer. The car itself will be sold on Trade Me when it’s ready to go, with all proceeds going towards the Movember charity.

Christmas crooner Michael Buble has announced he will return to New Zealand for one show in Auckland next June. The last time the jazz performer was in NZ was in 2020, as part of An Evening With Michael Buble, accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra at the Mission Estate winery in Hawke’s Bay. READ MORE:* 'I never thought I’d remain relevant': Michael Bublé on his incredible success* Sir Rod Stewart 'absolutely gutted' to cancel 2022 New Zealand tour* Michael Buble announces one New Zealand show at Mission EstateJohn Cowpland / alphapix Michael Buble on stage at Mission Estate in Hawke’s Bay in 2020. His 2011 album Christmas has sold enough copies to reach 12-times platinum in New Zealand. “I’m so sorry,” Buble joked to Stuff about his festive reputation earlier this year.