Thunderstorms rolling across Auckland on Saturday have seen trees blow into houses and spots of flooding – and more bad weather is to come. The earlier storms brought hail and very heavy rain, causing surface flooding to streams, gullies and urban areas. Supplied With the heavy rainfall overnight Friday and Saturday morning there is surface flooding and road closures in Newport St in Avondale, Christchurch. Heavy rainfall overnight on Friday and Saturday morning in Christchurch had caused surface flooding and road closures. Newport St in Avondale had surface flooding and was closed.

From format to the title favourites, here's what you need to know about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 2022 World Cup kicks off on Monday (NZT) with 32 teams competing for the title at the global showpiece in Qatar. Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Antoine Griezmann kisses the trophy after France's 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Former West Ham United striker Andre Ayew will captain Ghana on their fourth World Cup appearance. Alberto Valdez/Getty Images Tireless Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde will be central to his country's World Cup hopes in Qatar.

Specialty milk marketer The a2 Milk Company is eyeing further investment in dairy factories to de-risk the business and secure its future growth. A2 Milk’s processing partner Synlait Milk is the exclusive manufacturer for a2 Milk’s infant formula for the Chinese market, and holds the Chinese SAMR regulatory license for the product. Heard noted the company had recently made two significant appointments of specialists who would be instrumental in developing a2 Milk’s plan. A2 Milk expects to start implementing a five-year plan to build and operate factories in the 2023 calendar year, he said. A2 Milk had net cash of $816.5m at the end of its June 30 financial year, and this month began buying back up to $150m of its shares.

New Zealand's Indian-origin wrestler Suraj Singh was awarded a belated bronze medal in men's 57kg freestyle at the recently concluded 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, on Friday. This development came after his opponent in the bronze medal match - Pakistan's Ali Asad, was tested positive for a banned substance. The 23-year-old Suraj Singh's medal brings New Zealand's official medal tally at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to 20 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals. As per reports, Ali Asad was tested positive for a banned substance prior to his bout in Birmingham. The Pakistan wrestler was suspended and stripped off his medal after after his 'B sample' too came out positive.

Dan Alpe, CEO for JUCY, says campervan road trips open a new world of travel experiences. Here are Dan’s top campervan tips so budget-conscious, freedom-seeking road-trippers can get the best out of their holiday. READ MORE:* Travel Insider: How to do Singapore on a budget* Travel Insider: Tips for teaching your children how to pack* Travel Insider: Flying around New Zealand with a dogAnother way campervan travel wins (besides all the great #vanlife pics) is that it comes with a kitchen! If you have flexibility with travel dates, winter and shoulder season road trips mean more availability, lower costs, and shorter minimum hire periods. Popular Aotearoa road trip spots include Queenstown, the Bay of Islands, and the Taupō-to-Rotorua loop.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing might be a year-round option for adventurers, but the rugged volcanic environment is best experienced in the warmer months between November and May to avoid hazards like ice, snow and rock-bottom temperatures. Bookend your adventure with a stay at Tongariro Crossing Lodge and they will organise transport to and from the track, plus lunch. Tick the Tongariro Alpine Crossing off your list without even thinking about the logistics. From $259 per person, this all-inclusive package includes two nights’ accommodation in a suite at Tongariro Crossing Lodge, transport to the track start and finish, daily breakfast and packed lunch for the crossing. Book two nights at Napier's grand Art Deco Masonic Hotel this summer and take 10% off the rate.

There was a significant increase in activity at Barfoot & Thompson's latest auctions as the market moved up a gear as it heads towards summer. Auckland's biggest real estate agency offered 150 residential properties at its latest auctions (12-18 November), up from 105 the previous week, and around double the number it was typically offering at its auctions a few weeks ago. There was also a corresponding increase in the number of properties that sold, with 40 selling under the hammer at the latest auctions, up from 28 the previous week. However that left the overall sales rate at 27%, unchanged from the previous week. Details of the individual properties offered at all of the auctions around the country monitored by interest.co.nz, including the prices achieved on those that sold, are available on our Residential Auction Results page.

Flying Nun Records founder Roger Shepherd says he hasn't seen or heard some of the recordings since the early 80's. There are some people who are very strident custodians of Flying Nun history. Staff photographer/Stuff Flying Nun accountant Gary Cope packs up the Christchurch office for the move to Auckland in 1988. Archive Shayne Carter, left, with Flying Nun band Straitjacket Fits in 1991. NEEDLES & PLASTIC: FLYING NUN RECORDS, 1981-1988 by Matthew Goody is published by Auckland University Press, $69.99.

Former All Black Zinzan Brooke made headlines this week. Rugby All Black tour of South Africa 1996 Justin Marshall and Zinzan Brooke celebrate as the All Blacks win 33 - 26 over the Springboks at Pretoria. Photo / AllsportThe All Blacks are expected to confront Ireland or South Africa in their quarter-final at next year’s World Cup in France. “Right at the moment I’d much rather play South Africa. He’s just 20 but he’s doing bloody well.”* Zinzan Brooke was talking on behalf of FairBettingSites.co.uk

The revelation was a bombshell for fans, and also for Matt and his wife Ellen when they first found out several months earlier. “A neighbour dropped off a four-wheeler to us that he wasn’t using any more and all of a sudden the boys want to do a whole lot more farming!” Matt laughs. I was honest and told them, ‘I’m in a bit of a hole at the moment.’ I’m never going to be ‘cured’. “But I know I’ve been in this place before and things are going to get better. “I’ve said to a few people lately, ‘I don’t know if I’m cut out for farming’,” he admits.

The grand transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to a green one is underway. It will involve a fundamental shift in the way we generate and use energy for various purposes. Instead of drilling and mining for fossil fuels, we’ll need to mineThis is a re-post from the CCL Blog ...

Twenty-one-year-old Kimberley Schroder was raped and murdered by Paul Tainui, then Paul Russell Wilson, in Hokitika in 1994. Shortly after hearing of Tuxford's murder, Kimberley's father Gary Schroder, died in a suspected suicide. Tainui had tried to kill Kimberley Schroder once before - walking into a local pub with a loaded shotgun and assaulting her. "We don't sleep and get very stressed and depressed [each time there's a hearing]," Nancy Schroder wrote. Parole Board wary of how inmate would handle 'relationship difficulties'The Parole Board's reports described the murder as "sinister and brutal".

Adrian Orr's predecessor as governor of the Reserve Bank has criticised how the central bank handled policies during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic - and has issued a warning for political parties touting tax cuts ahead of next year's election. The Reserve Bank has faced a stream of criticism in recent months over the policies implemented since the start of the pandemic, with National and Act criticising policies that they see as having contributed to inflation and the rising cost of living. He said it was clear house prices were soaring at the end of 2020, and the bank could have acted earlier. "Instability in housing and moving to huge, unsustainable levels of house prices is not an appropriate strategy for monetary policy. "When you have inflation as you've got now, then you do have fiscal drag where everyone's going up the tax brackets and it increases the overall tax take.

Here's our summary of key economic events overnight that affect New Zealand, with news that the big global housing markets are on the ropes. Hong Kong ended down -0.3% for a flat weekly result, while Shanghai ended down -0.6% also for a flat weekly result. The ASX200 ended its Friday session up +0.2% and a flat weekly result, while the NZX50 rose +0.8% enabling it to post a +0.6% weekly gain. A week ago it was at US$1766/oz. The bitcoin price is now at US$16,557 and down -0.7% since this time yesterday and down -2.6% from a week ago.

Emergency services have been called to a serious crash after a car hit a power pole near Balclutha. A police spokeswoman said police were called to reports of the crash in Stirling Rd, Balclutha, about 6.05pm. One person, who appeared to be the only occupant of the vehicle, had serious injuries, she said. A spokesperson for St John said one person had been taken to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter. The serious crash unit had been notified.