State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa has re-opened after days of closure because of flooding and slips – but drivers are warned of more heavy rain and strong winds tonight.Waka Kotahi said this afternoon the coastal thoroughfare…
Category Archives: headline
Court orders halt on Inland Revenue chasing agent for unpaid tax
Inland Revenue has been told to stop chasing a real estate agent for unpaid tax after it was found to have mishandled the case.The courts have now put an end to criminal and civil proceedings against Auckland real estate agent Richard…
Pre-flight COVID-19 tests to be scrapped, Greg Hunt announces
Travellers coming into Australia from overseas will no longer need to pass a COVID test before boarding their flight.
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the change following conversations he had with the CEOs of Qantas and Virgin as well as the Chief Health Officer.
"At the moment, for somebody to enter into Australia, they need to have a pre-flight test," he said.
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"Given that the vaccination requirements remain and the masking requirements, the strong medical advice is that that would no longer be required, particularly as there are some challenges in some jurisdictions in having access to those tests or improving those tests."
Masks will still be required to be worn aboard international flights.
The change will come into effect on April 17.
The same day, price gouging rules on rapid antigen tests (RATs) will also lapse.
More than 509 million rapid antigen tests have arrived in Australia, Mr Hunt announced.
The ACCC will closely monitor the supply of RATs.
Under current rules, Australian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to come into the country even if they are not vaccinated.
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But other visa holders must be vaccinated to enter, unless they are granted an exemption.
COVID-19 cases are declining along the east coast, with Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland all reporting drops overnight.
Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: 'Discrimination' over masks forces exemption issuer to abandon process
An organisation that supplies thousands of Kiwis with mask exemptions is stopping due to the “discrimination” fuelled by confusion over mask-wearing rules.The Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) was one of a small number of other national…
Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: PCR testing delays of 16 days revealed
Some PCR tests done in late February took more than 16 days to be returned, new data can reveal. Experts have deemed the delays ridiculous and unacceptable, but also believe it contributed to a higher growth rate of the Omicron…
Herald afternoon quiz: March 25
Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.
Man critical, child also injured following attack at home in Melbourne's west
A man has been flown to hospital in what is believed to be a critical condition and a child has also been hospitalised following an assault in Melbourne's west.
Emergency services were called to a home on Parkleigh Drive in Kurunjang just before 8.30am following what police have described as an assault.
It is believed the assault was a stabbing.
READ MORE: Woman and two children killed in car fire beside Melbourne highway
Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
Ambulance Victoria has advised the man is believed to be in a critical condition.
He is under police guard in hospital.
Police have said the child has minor injuries.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Woman and two children killed in car fire beside Melbourne highway
A woman in her 30s and two girls aged under six have been found dead after a car burst into flames in Melbourne's south-east.
Emergency services were called to a fire by the Western Port Highway in Cranbourne West just before 8pm yesterday.
Firefighters rushed to extinguish the intense blaze, which had spread from the car, parked about 15 metres from the side of the highway, into nearby paddocks.
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After the fire was put out, the bodies of a woman and two children were found in the hatchback.
A truck driver stopped to help at the scene during the fire, while multiple witnesses called Triple Zero.
The exact circumstances leading up to the fire have not been determined, but it is believed the car was parked when the fire began.
Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad are now investigating.
Police said they are "not looking for anybody else at this time".
Detectives are now calling for any witnesses or anybody who may have dashcam footage of the fire.
https://twitter.com/LanaMurphy/status/1507169426608893952
Anyone with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
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Queensland man injured by bucket bomb possibly victim of 'targeted event'
A 52-year-old is lucky not to have suffered more serious injuries after a "homemade explosive device" exploded as he picked it up in a front yard in Logan.
The man picked up a bucket outside a home on Jacaranda Avenue in Kingston when it exploded yesterday afternoon.
The man suffered shrapnel injuries and flesh wounds as well as concussion injuries in the blast.
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"At this stage we're still investigating what was contained within this explosive device," Detective Senior Sergeant Nicola Brown said.
"He's sustained quite significant injuries."
The man had surgery yesterday and is in Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
Police are yet to formally interview him.
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Nearby resident Sam was in his home down the road when he heard the blast.
"The first explosion I heard was a big loud sound," he told Today.
"After maybe three, four, five minutes, there was a second explosion.
"Very scary."
Police are now appealing to the public for any information or dashcam footage.
"We do believe that it could possibly be a targeted event," Detective Senior Sergeant Brown said.
"We don't believe there's any threat to the wider community."
An emergency declaration made under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) has now been revoked.
Specialist police set up a crime scene and an emergency declaration was made.
Police spent the night searching the area and investigations are ongoing.
Waikato methamphetamine manufacturer pens poem to sentencing judge: 'A boy battling his past'
Abused, neglected, and illiterate as a child, a key player in a major Waikato drug bust penned a poem to his sentencing judge outlining the troubles he was battling.”Inside is a boy battling his past,” Alan McQuade wrote in the…