The owner of a Waikato bus company has been left in tears after three vehicles that transport more than 100 children to school and kindergarten were destroyed by youths. Video footage, shared by Paeroa Private Hire’s Deane Olsen,…

A spill of “foul condensate” at Kinleith Mill was responsible for residents of Tokoroa waking to a horrible stink this morning.The mill’s operator, Oji Fibre Solutions, said a storage tank overflowed at 8am and was cleaned up in…

Two people have been taken to hospital after a car rolled just north of Raetihi. A police spokeswoman said a single vehicle with two people inside had overturned into a ditch between Valley Rd and Mangarewa Rd on State Highway 4….

A 25-year-old Sydney woman has become an instant millionaire after winning Australia's vaccine lottery prize.

Joanne Zhu was today announced as the major prize winner of the Million Dollar Vax campaign, winning $1 million for receiving her COVID-19 vaccinations. 

She told Today that she plans to hold a family reunion with her new-found wealth.

"I want to fly my family out from China first class and put them up in a five star hotel for Chinese New Year if the borders are open," Ms Zhu said.

"I will buy presents for my family and invest the rest of the money so I can make more money in the future and to help people if they need help."

Ms Zhu said she was unable to take the initial call from the Million Dollar Vax campaign about her $1 million prize.

"Someone rang me the other day. I think it was on Friday, and I was at work, I couldn't pick up the phone.

"Then I called them back and she said: "Oh, you won a million dollars! You're the only one in Australia'!"

READ MORE: Australia hits 80 per cent double dose milestone

Ms Zhu was one of 2,744,974 Australians who registered for their chance to win, entering the draw on October 3. 

The campaign helped drive first-dose vaccinations from 78.5 per cent to an impressive 88.3 per cent throughout October.

Australia yesterday hit the 80 per cent double vaccination milestone for those aged over 16.

Craig Winkler, of the Million Dollar Vax Alliance, said: "All of us behind the campaign are incredibly proud of what it has achieved; it's excellent to finally announce the winner and hearing their reaction was truly priceless!"   

"The most encouraging element was the late increase in entries from states such as South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, encouragingly receiving over 100,000 entries on the final day of the campaign." 

One of the young “stars” of the infamous television shows documenting life in the Gloriavale Christian community has left the secretive group and is now living on the outside.Pearl Valor and her husband Paul were featured in Gloriavale…

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed Aucklanders will be able to “travel through summer” and be reunited with families over Christmas. However, exactly how that will happen and when, including if vaccinations will be required…

When Hayden Stewart-Redgewell touched down in Adelaide last night, the last thing he expected was the four walls of a medi-hotel to become his view.

Mr Stewart-Redgewell is one of several travellers to be caught out after South Australia tightened its border with the Northern Territory, amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak.

The new rules, which came into affect at 7.45pm yesterday, mean any travellers who have not received a COVID-19 vaccination are not permitted into the state without first seeking a travel exemption.

READ MORE: Young woman is third positive COVID-19 case in NT

Mr Stewart-Redgewell claims he has been stuck in hotel quarantine despite arriving before the restriction deadline.

"Just confusion and still a bit of shock that I'm here," he told 9News.

"I just shouldn't be here".

For Brad, another traveller, the confusion started as soon as he prepared to disembark off the plane.

He has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

"(The pilot) goes, 'actually folks just had a message through if you're not double-vaxxed you're in a bit of a strife'," he said.

The sentiment is echoed by Nathan Voller, another arrival into the state.

"I mean our flight come in at 6.20pm we shouldn't really be here, we should have walked straight through," he said.

"You feel like you're in prison to be honest like treated like a criminal."

Instead, the travellers were met by authorities and forced to wait more than two hours in the airport.

Fully-vaccinated travellers coming from the Northern Territory are only required to get tested on days 1, 5 and 13 and only need to self-quarantine until the first negative result.

9News reached out to South Australia Police for comment, they said that under questioning they determined the travellers fell under level six restrictions and were therefore not permitted to enter.

"South Australia Police can advise that an Authorised Officer, pursuant to the Emergency Management Act is able to give a person a direction prior to the publishing of a Direction by the State Coordinator," they said in a statement.

"It was determined that the (travellers) were subject to level six restrictions (not permitted to enter) and directed to medi-hotel accommodation until a return flight could be arranged by SA Health."

Police are searching for a man in his 50s after a shark attack off a popular Western Australian beach.

St Johns Ambulance crews attended Port Beach in Fremantle at 10am local time.

The attack was witnessed by a group of teenage boys who tried to help the victim, then warned other swimmers to get out of the water.

READ MORE: Australia hits 80 per cent double dose milestone

"We looked over and a kid was coming, flying down, trying to tell everyone to get out of the water," one witness told 9News.

Witnesses believe the shark was a 4.5-metre great white.

Western Australia police said the search will continue into the night and will resume at "first light".

Acting Inspector Troy Douglas praised the actions of the boys who alerted emergency services to the attack "pretty much straight away".

The victim was a regular swimmer at Port Beach, police said.

Police boats and lifesavers are searching for the victim in the water. His condition is not known.

Police boats and other vessels are in the water.

The attack has forced the closure of several beaches along the coastline.

Port Beach was quickly closed, followed by Leighton Beach and Cottesloe Beach.

Surf Life Saving reported an unknown species of shark about two metres long had been spotted off Port Beach just after 10am.

READ MORE: Cleo Smith's family thank police in statement

Afterpay has expanded its buy now, pay later service to hospitality venues, allowing diners to pay off a night at the pub in four instalments.

Australian Venue Co. is the first hospitality group to partner with the platform. It's rolled out the payment method to its 160 pubs, restaurants and bars across the country.

Paul Waterson, the managing director of Australian Venue Co, said initial trials are proving popular — especially among younger patrons.

READ MORE: St Kilda penguin dies after allegedly thrown against wall, kicked

"It's only early days, it's only been a week, but already uptake has been very strong," he said.

"A lot of our patrons are millennials, they use Afterpay for budgeting purposes and they don't typically have credit cards."

The concept of using buy now, pay later in hospitality venues is nothing new.

READ MORE: New data shows how buy-now-pay-later services stack up

Payo, Australia's first "hospitality only" buy now pay later service, is already available in more than 700 venues across Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

However, prospective patrons are being warned to take care using the service.

In the last financial year, AfterPay made almost $100 million dollars in late fees, which accounts for about 10 per cent of its total revenue.

"If you don't have enough money for a night out, think about going somewhere cheaper," Sally Tindall, research director for RateCity, said.

"Or think about delaying your plan until you can properly treat yourself."

A person has been seriously hurt in a South Auckland home.It happened in Mangere East this afternoon. “One person has received serious injuries and inquiries are ongoing,” a police spokeswoman said.”This is a family harm incident.”…