“I haven’t made any recovery,” Thompson said when a A Current Affair reporter approached him outside an apartment block. A Current Affair then showed footage of Thompson holidaying in the Philippines, drinking beers and smoking cigarettes. Accused sex offender Ronald Thompson was a well-known carpet salesman in the 1990s. One of Thompson’s alleged victims told A Current Affair he was “obviously not dying”. He needs to answer to it.”Australian Federal MP Andrew Wallace, who lives on the Sunshine Coast, said Thompson’s visa should be cancelled.

At the University of Auckland, law school professional teaching fellow Simon Schofield said he had heard of employers taking an increasingly stringent line in respect to sick leave. “In essence, by taking sick leave we’re hopefully not disrupting other people within the organisation. Not allowing people to accrue more than 20 days’ sick leave left them vulnerable, she said. “Currently, in this country, we put carer’s leave and sick leave together. If I’m looking after my children who are sick we put that in the same bucket as sick leave.

Air New Zealand raised its fares this morning, and said it could be forced to raise them again and review routes. The price of jet fuel has been fluctuating wildly since the conflict broke out, and has at times gone up more than 120 percent. Regional carrier Chathams Air said the war in the Middle East could add more than $1.6 million to its annual fuel bill if it continues. According to Reuters, Vietnam Airlines had asked local authorities to remove an environmental tax on jet fuel to help it maintain operations. Singapore Airlines raised fares to Europe by $140 for a return ticket this morning.

This week is a Parliamentary sitting week, which means Luxon, who shuns media more often than his predecessors, has more public engagements than usual. Most importantly, Luxon left Tuesday morning’s caucus meeting with the same job he had going in: leader. With Finance Minister Nicola Willis, Luxon tried to make a virtue out of being boring. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon isn't listening to leadership speculation. Photo / Michael CraigWillis also took the opportunity to try the novel tactic of pre-releasing her Budget forecasts.

In August 2023, Beets was assessed as needing Dementia Level 3 secure residential care and placed in the dementia unit operated by Bupa Care Service. She saw Beets lying on his back near the bookshelf and the other patient was “on his knees with Mr Beets”. Mr Beets stepped backwards away from [the patient] and fell on to the floor.”She described seeing the patient kneeling next to Beets with his arm raised and his fist clenched. Coroner Thomas said Beets’ family had questioned the circumstances surrounding his fall to understand whether anything could have been done to prevent it. “Our thoughts remain with Mr Beets’ family, and we recognise the distress this event caused them.

Health Minister Simeon Brown told The Front Page that phase one of the inquiry didn’t go far enough. “Ultimately, New Zealanders are still feeling the cost of that still today, in terms of cost in the economy. Health Minister Simeon Brown, pictured at the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into New Zealand's Covid-19 response at Parliament. Are there things you could do differently in a future pandemic? Photo / Mark MitchellHipkins, the former Covid Response Minister, has been open about mistakes made during the pandemic.

Photo: SuppliedA large vegetation fire that initially threatened housing at Arthurs Point has now been extinguished. Multiple fire appliances and a helicopter with a monsoon bucket battled the blaze, near Queenstown. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman said emergency services were alerted to the fire, in the Moonlight Track area, about 4.30pm. She said the fire grew to about 100m x 100m and initially, housing in the area was reported to be in danger. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by 7pm, and no houses were damaged by the blaze.

Two Crusaders forwards reportedly clashed at training days after the team’s loss to the Blues. Photo / PhotosportTwo Crusaders forwards reportedly clashed at training days after the team’s loss to the Blues. Photo / PhotosportBy RNZDays after a significant loss to the Blues, tensions rose at a Crusaders training on Tuesday with reports of punches thrown. Stuff is reporting forwards Kershawl Sykes-Martin and lock Will Tucker were involved in a dust-up at Rugby Park in Christchurch during a contact session. After training, coach Rob Penney did his best to downplay the tension, telling reporters he was not fazed by the clash between his players, and even welcomed it.

Photo / Jason OxenhamAs the Herald wrote last week, if Luxon was going to take advice from anyone amid speculation over his leadership, it would be Key. The former National leader, who was Prime Minister between 2008 and 2016, has previously spoken of his relationship with the current premier. Among them was Education Minister Erica Stanford, who is often discussed as a potential replacement for Luxon, though she had dismissed that. She said it had been a “bad week for the National Party and our caucus”. Asked if she was resigned to losing her seat, she said: “No, I am fighting hard for it.”Tama Potaka, another National minister, said he supported Luxon.

One issue is that the fares we have sold do not come close to covering this sort of price rise. “What we need is immediate relief from some Government costs, such as Airways [NZ] charges and also CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] levies,” he said. According to Bacon, it’s “seldom the case” that airlines earn a significant profit as a result of high airfare prices. Jet fuel prices were about US$85 ($144) to US$90 per barrel before the conflict but have surged to US$150-US$200 in recent days. However, pricing on unsold seats can move more quickly, as airlines respond to fuel costs as well as supply and demand,” Staples explained.

Photo: RNZMonths' worth of social housing and benefit data haven't been published because of a broken system, and there's no fix in sight. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) usually provides monthly updates, including information like the number of people in emergency and social housing, and how big the waitlist is, tracking changes over time. Those have not been published since November, and the quarterly update due in December was also missing. MSD has reported "high level" benefit data - the number of people on various benefits - as at December, but its usual monthly benefit reporting was affected too. "The delay is related to our Information Analysis Platform, which is the tool we use to collate benefit and some housing data," MSD insights general manager Fleur McLaren said.

Photo: SuppliedNelson's mayor says smaller centres are rattled by a warning from Air New Zealand it may have make changes to where it flies and how often. Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said there was a "huge amount of nervousness in regional New Zealand" over the possibility of Air New Zealand reviewing services. Smith said he was due to meet with Air New Zealand in the next couple of weeks. Photo: RNZNew Plymouth Mayor Max Brough warned of a revolt if changes are made to flights. "The airport has been working with Air New Zealand to remind them that it is a popular destination," he said.

A Dunedin teenager allegedly spat in the face of a police officer after being caught red-handed breaking into a car. On arrival, they witnessed three teenagers rummaging through a Toyota Aqua after they had smashed a window. All three teens were arrested and charged with unlawful interference with a motor vehicle. The spitting teen was also charged with assault. They will appear in Dunedin Youth Court this week.

Or will the Hammers deliver one of the all-time shocks in Ranfurly Shield history? Two Heartland Championship teams will get a crack at the coveted Log o’ Wood this season. The Otago Rugby Football Union has offered both a challenge at the shield and has locked in dates. Assuming Otago defend the shield against their neighbours, they will face another challenge from Mid Canterbury in Alexandra on Friday, July 24. Otago claimed the Ranfurly Shield with a stirring 38-36 win over Canterbury in Christchurch in September.

Kapa-Kingi was elected to the Te Tai Tokerau Northland seat for Te Pāti Māori in 2023 after an unsuccessful attempt in 2017. Her electorate win was one of six for the Te Pāti Māori amid “an incoming wave of support” for the party in the 2023 election. Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi in their seats in the debating chamber further back from Te Pāti Māori after being expelled from the party. “They excluded her from the process that led to her expulsion from the party,” Justice Radich said. The party said it acknowledged the court decision which reinstated Kapa-Kingi into the party.