Ukraine peace talks, Apprentice drop, & Wellington anti-bullying drive
A burst water main is sending thousands of gallons of water into the air, covering neighbouring properties and leaving some residents without supplies.
MPs face record suspensions, uncertainty surrounds Ukraine peace talks, and NZ's net migration drops sharply.
Meet Auckland's newest action stars! Reporter Hailey is checking out a real-life stunt school where kids of all abilities are flying through the air and crashing through zombies.
The biggest night on New Zealand's literary calendar is here.
Kiwi flyweight Kai Kara-France will fight for the UFC world title against Alexandre Pantoja in Las Vegas in June.
Christopher Luxon has slated the Green Party's alternative Budget , saying the whole thing is madness. Video / Mark Mitchell
A group of workers claimed they paid between $10,000-$50,000 in cash to Indian agents for visas to work in NZ. Video / Ben Dickens
The ACT minister was responding to a question from Labour when she used the word. Video / Mark Mitchell
Watch a heated back and forth around the topic of pay equity. Video / Parliament TV
Greens promise $88b taxes including 33% inheritance tax for massive social safety net expansion. Video / Mark Mitchell
"I think it was, you know, a heroic effort on her part," says Kardashian's lawyer, after the reality TV star appeared in Paris court.
An ambulance was stolen and taken for a joyride in Timaru while medical staff were preparing a patient for transfer. Video / Supplied
NZ Herald Live: David Seymour speaks to media on budget 2025
David Seymour speaks with Mike Hosking about the new $140 million Getting kids in School programme. Video / NZ Herald
NZ drug markets shift online, Covid-born kids face school challenges, and Trump meets Saudi leaders on visit to Middle East.
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Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Destiny Church march 'not Kiwi, nor Christian'
The Minister for Ethnic Communities says he was "appalled" by a Destiny Church march on Saturday which was neither "Kiwi, nor Christian". Church followers marched down Auckland's Queen Street on Saturday against "foreign religions", with leader Brian Tamaki saying the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christian nations". A number of flags were also set on fire but were put out before firefighters arrived. In a post to Facebook, Minister Mark Mitchell said everyone had a right to freedom of speech and protest. "That does mean, however, that New Zealanders are free to condemn behaviour that is not in keeping with our values as a country and as a wider community. "I am proud to be the Minister of Ethnic Communities in a multicultural and diverse New Zealand, which has had a proud history of welcoming people from all walks of life." Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Mitchell said behaviour that incited discrimination or violence was "damaging" and condemned the "vile rhetoric and behaviour" of the Church and its associates. "The behaviour I saw was not Kiwi, nor Christian. "The use of taiaha, which is a culturally sacred weapon, to overtly stab at flags representing minority groups in our country, while being torn to pieces and burnt is not acceptable." Mitchell said the government had a strong focus in public safety. "Anything that threatens or disturbs the public's right to go about their lives free from threat of violence is something I take very seriously. "New Zealand welcomes all people, of all backgrounds and ethnicities, who are willing to behave in a way that is tolerant and reflective of our values. The actions I saw from Destiny Church this weekend in my view are not welcome in New Zealand." On Saturday, Acting Prime Minister David Seymour denounced the marching, saying it 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," Seymour 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." 'Despicable event' - faith and ethnic communities It comes as faith and ethnic communities urge the government get moving on hate speech legislation in response to a Destiny Church march on the weekend. The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, the Combined Sikh Association of NZ, and the New Zealand Buddhist Council say the event was "despicable" and New Zealand needs a strategy for social cohesion. In a letter to the government, all MPs and public sector agencies, the groups said there were "elements" in New Zealand who exploit the lack of effective hate speech legislation to gain notoriety for through "racist stunts". "With the rapid rise of hate incidents reported to the NZ Police, we now have similar conditions which gave rise to the terror attacks of 15 March. In an increasing diverse multi-faith and multi-ethnic Aotearoa New Zealand, there needs to be in place a sustained strategy for social cohesion." "This was clearly outlined and specified in detail in the Royal Commission, which have now been mostly abandoned." In the letter the groups requested: • A consensus approach by all political parties on ensuring social cohesion is a national priority. • Expediting the work of the Law Commission on hate crime and include recommendations on the way forward for effective hate speech legislation. • Funding and curriculum resources for schools so tamariki can be exposed to multiculturalism and respect for all communities. • Completion of the recommendations of the Royal Commission. • Funding community-led social cohesion education programmes which emphasise community connections and living with diversity.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell condemns Destiny Church march: 'Not Kiwi, nor Christian'
Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The Minister for Ethnic Communities says he was "appalled" by a Destiny Church march on Saturday which was neither "Kiwi, nor Christian". Church followers marched down Auckland's Queen Street on Saturday against "foreign religions", with leader Brian Tamaki saying the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christian nations". A number of flags were also set on fire but were put out before firefighters arrived. Protesters at the Destiny Church rally in Auckland. Photo: RNZ In a post to Facebook, Minister Mark Mitchell said everyone had a right to freedom of speech and protest. "That does mean, however, that New Zealanders are free to condemn behaviour that is not in keeping with our values as a country and as a wider community. "I am proud to be the Minister of Ethnic Communities in a multicultural and diverse New Zealand, which has had a proud history of welcoming people from all walks of life." Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Mitchell said behaviour that incited discrimination or violence was "damaging" and condemned the "vile rhetoric and behaviour" of the Church and its associates. "The behaviour I saw was not Kiwi, nor Christian. "The use of taiaha, which is a culturally sacred weapon, to overtly stab at flags representing minority groups in our country, while being torn to pieces and burnt is not acceptable." Mitchell said the government had a strong focus in public safety. "Anything that threatens or disturbs the public's right to go about their lives free from threat of violence is something I take very seriously. "New Zealand welcomes all people, of all backgrounds and ethnicities, who are willing to behave in a way that is tolerant and reflective of our values. The actions I saw from Destiny Church this weekend in my view are not welcome in New Zealand." Protesters and counter-protesters at the Destiny Church rally. Photo: RNZ On Saturday, Acting Prime Minister David Seymour denounced the marching, saying it 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," Seymour 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." It comes as faith and ethnic communities urge the government get moving on hate speech legislation in response to a Destiny Church march on the weekend. The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, the Combined Sikh Association of NZ, and the New Zealand Buddhist Council say the event was "despicable" and New Zealand needs a strategy for social cohesion. In a letter to the government, all MPs and public sector agencies, the groups said there were "elements" in New Zealand who exploit the lack of effective hate speech legislation to gain notoriety for through "racist stunts". "With the rapid rise of hate incidents reported to the NZ Police, we now have similar conditions which gave rise to the terror attacks of 15 March. In an increasing diverse multi-faith and multi-ethnic Aotearoa New Zealand, there needs to be in place a sustained strategy for social cohesion." "This was clearly outlined and specified in detail in the Royal Commission, which have now been mostly abandoned." In the letter the groups requested: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Overseas investment decisions made twice as fast after directive from David Seymour
Watch Acting PM David Seymour speak after Cabinet meeting: Overseas investment decisions are being made twice as fast, following a directive from David Seymour to Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Seymour, who holds portfolio responsibility for the Overseas Investment Act, told LINZ last year to process 80 percent of consent applications in half the statutory timeframes for decisions. He said the financial year beginning 1 July 2024 was on-track to meet expectations, with 88 percent of applications processed in half the timeframe. "Processing times have reduced by 39 percent faster than the previous financial year. The average timeframe has reduced from 71 working days in the last financial year, to 28 working days this financial year," Seymour said. "Since this financial year began, processing times have reduced by 39 percent faster than the previous financial year. The average timeframe has reduced from 71 working days in the last financial year, to 28 working days this financial year." Seymour is standing in for Christopher Luxon at this week's post-Cabinet press conference as Acting Prime Minister, but has made the announcement in his capacity as Associate Minister of Finance. He said the improvements to processing times were largely due to a new risk-based approach LINZ was taking to verifying information and streamlining consent processes, recognising that most applications were low-risk. There had been a drop in total applications for residential land development (122 between 1 July 2024 and 19 June 2025, down from 146 in the previous financial year), which Seymour said was due to poor property market conditions. He expected the numbers to bounce back as the property marked rose. LINZ still had the full statutory timeframe to process 20 percent of applications, which would allow them to manage the more complex and high-risk applications. With Parliament sitting this week for the first time in three weeks, Seymour's Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill will also have its first reading. The Bill seeks to introduce a modified national interest test so low-risk transactions can be assessed quicker. The screening process for less sensitive assets would also be simplified. The current screening quota for investments in farmland and fishing quota would stay in place. Seymour said New Zealand currently had one of the most restrictive overseas investment regimes in the OECD. "We've paid the price in lost opportunities, lower productivity, and stagnant wages. This Bill is about reversing that," he said.
