Juliana Herrera's murder inquest continues and more tariff developments

Two different fires have marred Māngere Mountain in the past few months! Reporter Kaitoa heads to a Love Your Maunga event, bringing people together to support Te Pane o Mataoho.
Police will conduct an audit, assessing applicants over a six-month period. Video / Alex Burton, Alyse Wright
Fire and Emergency crews from South Auckland stations have attended an unexplained fire at a Funeral home in Mangere overnight. Video / NZ Herald
Flooding on Ross Rd in Parua Bay, Whangārei. Video / Kathy Wallace
Kerikeri River at full spate after wet weather. Video / Ian Johnston
The US is considering a 'harder' approach to Russia. Pope Francis' funeral sees thousands gather at Vatican City. Massive explosion at major Iranian port. Video / NZ Herald
Diagnosed at 45 with stage 4 cancer, Jackie Robertson wants earlier bowel screening — and a better chance for others. Video \ Jason Dorday
Pope Francis is farewelled at a funeral ceremony in the Vatican's St Peter's Square. Video / AFP
Thousands, including US President Donald Trump, Britain's Prince William and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have gathered in the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral.
North Shore residents have had their first glimpse of the devastation caused by the recent fire at the Abilities Group recycling plant on Hill Rd. Video / NZ Herald
Mourners turn out in huge numbers for Pope Francis. Fatal crash in Rotorua. Kremlin, US peace talks 'constructive'. Video / NZ Herald
Now based in Las Vegas, Kiwi comic Sam Wills is heading home for a special anniversary show.
Two firefighters had to be rescued last night after their aerial unit broke down, stranding them above the flames in a cloud of heavy smoke.
A man has been critically injured following a stabbing on Coburg St in Henderson Valley. Video / NZ Herald
Wendy's NZ owner Greg Flynn, chief executive and founder of Flynn Group, talks to Tom Raynel about the NZ business and his plans for growth in Australia. Video / Alyse Wright

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Destiny Church Protesters Set Flags On Fire In Auckland Rally

Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has denounced today's Destiny Church protest in downtown Auckland. Hundreds have marched from Aotea Square down Queen Street, in what the church billed as a rally "in defence of faith, flag and family". Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Church leader Brian Tamaki claimed "uncontrolled immigration" in the United Kingdom had led to spikes in crime and a collapse in British identity. Tamaki said the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christian nations". At one point, flags - which an RNZ reporter said appeared to include rainbow flags and flags representing mainstream media - were set alight. Seymour said the church leader's messaging was "un-Kiwi". "What it means to be Kiwi is people come from all over the world, and so long as they come peacefully to build a better world, then they're welcome," he said. "Brian Tamaki's various attitudes have all sorts of problems, but at their heart they're un-Kiwi attitudes because they're intolerant and uninclusive." "What I take issue with is his attacks on other New Zealander's right to practice their faith just as he has a right to practice his." Ahead of the march, Tamaki said church leaders had sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling for a reversal on a position that the country has no official religion. He said one demand included enforcing a policy of "no immigration without assimilation" - a phrase also chanted during the protest march. The acting prime minister said Destiny Church was free to criticise the government. "Christianity has given a lot to New Zealand but some New Zealanders find faith in other teachings, and so long as they are committed to tolerance for all, then that's not a problem," he said. "I just want all New Zealanders to know, that if they come here in good faith to build a better society with tolerance of others then they are welcome here. "And Brian Tamaki certainly has no right to tell you otherwise." Fire and Emergency crews were called to the march after flags were set on fire. However rally goers then put the flames out with water and the arriving firefighters then left without taking action. Police were stationed at the protest, but said they did not make any arrests. The Destiny marchers were met by counterprotesters - an RNZ reporter said there were about 100 present at one stage - who were waving tino rangatiratanga flags and Palestine flags.

1News

an hour ago

• 1News

Seymour denounces Destiny Church protest demands as 'un-Kiwi'

Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has denounced today's Destiny Church protest in downtown Auckland. Hundreds have marched from Aotea Square down Queen St, in what the church billed as a rally "in defence of faith, flag and family". Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Church leader Brian Tamaki claimed "uncontrolled immigration" in the United Kingdom had led to spikes in crime and a collapse in British identity. Tamaki said the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christian nations". ADVERTISEMENT Watch the Destiny Church protesters march through downtown Auckland on TVNZ+ At one point, flags – which an RNZ reporter said appeared to include rainbow flags and flags representing mainstream media – were set alight. Seymour said the church leader's messaging was "un-Kiwi". "What it means to be Kiwi is people come from all over the world, and so long as they come peacefully to build a better world, then they're welcome," he said. "Brian Tamaki's various attitudes have all sorts of problems, but at their heart they're un-Kiwi attitudes because they're intolerant and uninclusive. "What I take issue with is his attacks on other New Zealander's right to practice their faith just as he has a right to practice his." Protesters and counter-protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. (Source: ADVERTISEMENT Ahead of the march, Tamaki said church leaders had sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling for a reversal on a position that the country has no official religion. He said one demand included enforcing a policy of "no immigration without assimilation" – a phrase also chanted during the protest march. The acting prime minister said Destiny Church was free to criticise the Government. "Christianity has given a lot to New Zealand but some New Zealanders find faith in other teachings, and so long as they are committed to tolerance for all, then that's not a problem," he said. "I just want all New Zealanders to know, that if they come here in good faith to build a better society with tolerance of others then they are welcome here. "And Brian Tamaki certainly has no right to tell you otherwise." Protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025 (Source: ADVERTISEMENT Fire and Emergency crews were called to the march after flags were set on fire. However rally goers then put the flames out with water and the arriving firefighters then left without taking action. Police were stationed at the protest, but said they did not make any arrests. The Destiny marchers were met by counterprotesters – an RNZ reporter said there were about 100 present at one stage – who were waving tino rangatiratanga flags and Palestine flags.

RNZ News

3 hours ago

• RNZ News

China tightens internet controls with new centralised form of virtual ID

By John Liu , for CNN A man reads from his laptop as he eats, in April in Beijing, China. Photo: AFP/ Yin Gang China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world's most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID. Instead of requiring individuals to submit their personal information for identity checks separately on each platform, the government now seeks to centralise the process by issuing a virtual ID that will allow users to sign in across different social media apps and websites. The rules for the new system, currently voluntary, were released in late May and will be implemented in mid-July. It aims to "protect citizens' identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy," according to the published rules. Experts, however, have raised concerns that the new policy will further erode already limited freedom of expression by forcing internet users to relinquish even more control to the state. Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the country has further tightened its grip on the digital space through an army of censors. Deployed around the clock, they remove posts, suspend accounts and help authorities identify critics, quashing any sign of dissent before it can gain traction. The finalised rules were announced after a proposal that was opened for public comment last summer, a typical step in China's legislative process. During the course of the public consultation over the past year, the proposal faced backlash from law professors, human rights experts and some internet users. Yet, the finalised rules remained largely similar to the draft. "This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users," said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist studying internet freedom at the University of California, Berkeley. "It can directly erase voices it doesn't like from the internet, so it's more than just a surveillance tool - it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism." Control of China's vast portion of the global internet has largely been delegated to a decentralised range of different groups, with authorities relying partially on the social media platforms themselves to identify comments deemed problematic. Xiao warned that a centralised system using the internet ID could make it much easier for the government to wipe out a user's presence across multiple platforms at once. Shane Yi, a researcher at China Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, echoed Xiao's worries. The system gives the Chinese government expanded power to "do what they want when they see fit" on the internet, as authorities are able to track users' entire digital trail "from point zero," she said. Bus passengers use smartphones in Qingdao city, in the east of China's Shandong province, in 2019. Photo: AFP/ Zhan Hailin At home, Chinese state-run media has called the internet ID a "bullet-proof vest for personal information" and touted the system as being able to greatly reduce the risk of personal data leaks. Already, more than six million people have registered for the ID, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua last month, out of a total estimated online population of more than one billion. A cybersecurity official from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that the internet ID service was strictly "voluntary," but the government encourages various industries and sectors to integrate with it. "Its goal is to provide individuals with a secure, convenient, authoritative and efficient means of identity verification, in support of the development of the digital economy," the person was quoted as saying. But experts have also questioned how voluntary the system truly is and highlighted risks of potential data breaches, as personal information is now being collected in a centralised manner. Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that, although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could gradually evolve into a system which users may struggle not to opt in to. "If the government wants to promote this internet ID verification system, it can do so through various arrangements - essentially by encouraging people to adopt it, offering more conveniences in return," he said. Sun also raised concerns about the increased risks of data leaks. "A centralized, nationwide platform inherently creates a single point of vulnerability, making it an attractive target for hackers or hostile foreign actors," he said. Government data breaches have occurred around the world. One notable incident in China involved a police database containing the personal information of one billion citizens being leaked online in 2022. Although the new rules won't take effect until mid-July, hundreds of apps started trialling the internet ID since last year. The system was born out of a proposal by a police official early last year. Jia Xiaoliang, a cyber police deputy director in northeastern China who is also a delegate to China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, first proposed the system during the Congress' annual meeting in March 2024. As soon as the government began soliciting public comments on the proposal last July, experts and legal scholars voiced opposition. Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to "installing a surveillance device on every individual's online activity" in a post on Weibo, an X-like Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and her account was subsequently suspended from posting for three months, for "violating relevant rules." In late May, when the finalised rules were unveiled after a year, almost no criticism could be found online. Xiao explained that it's not the first time authorities have spaced out the time between a proposal and its implementation, to allow critics to "blow off steam." "It's done deliberately … Many of their measures follow the same pattern, and they've proven effective," he said. - CNN