Countdown in Auckland’s Ōrewa wasn’t visited by one of the possible new community cases, the supermarket chain has confirmed. A Countdown spokeswoman earlier told the Herald earlier that the store was closed for a deep clean…

By RNZ Newly revealed positive test results for Covid-19 in two people who previously tested negative could be “weak positives”, and may not mean they are infectious, says microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles.Further testing is being…

Two people who completed their managed isolation in the same facility and at the same time as the Northland case are now being treated as confirmed Covid-19 infections, according to the Ministry of Health.”While we still can’t categorically…

A couple hit and killed by a car while walking their dogs on Australia Day have been identified as parents-to-be Katherine Jane Leadbetter and her partner Matthew Philip Field.

A teenager has been accused of being behind the wheel of an allegedly stolen car and has been charged with murder.

Ms Leadbetter, 31, and Mr Field, 37, were struck by a Landcruiser 4WD after it sped through a red light at Finucane Road and Vienna Road in Brisbane last night.

Ms Leadbetter, an interior stylist, was six months pregnant at the time of the crash.

One of the couple's dogs, Frankie, went missing after the crash and was found in bushland today. She has been taken to the vet.

The couple's other dog is in the care of family.

A 17-year-old boy will face court today in Brisbane charged with the couple's murder.

Police allege he was driving a stolen Landcruiser 4WD when he went through a red light and ploughed into a truck at Alexandra Hills.

It's alleged the 4WD was stolen between 4pm and 5pm yesterday from a Cleveland house, prior to the deadly rampage.

Moments earlier, the 4WD was filmed appearing to engage in a road rage attack, deliberately colliding with a silver Hyundai at the intersection of Vienna and Finucane Roads before speeding away.

https://twitter.com/SallyGyte/status/1354269074184785920

About 15 minutes later, he allegedly lost control of the 4WD after speeding through the red light at Finucane Road and Vienna Road and collided with the truck.

The Landcruiser rolled and struck the Alexandra Hills couple as they crossed the road.

"Despite the incredible efforts of witnesses and emergency services both pedestrians died at the scene," Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said.

"The terrible tragedy has resulted in two, potentially three innocent lives being lost."

Mr Codd said witnesses and first responders are receiving support for the "incredibly catastrophic scene".

"We heard this terrific noise and we thought someone's had an accident," a witness told 9News.

"We thought it could have been us, we walk here often enough."

Police have also called on anyone who may have dashcam footage to contact police.

"Can I appeal to people to recognise that even the smallest piece of information could be vital in us building a case and understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic circumstance," Mr Codd said.

He said the families of the two victims are "devastated" by the incident and expressed his sympathies to those involved.

"Here's two people going about their innocent businesses on Australia Day, walking their dogs. They should be entitled to do that and now to have them ripped away from their families is absolutely tragic and it will weigh very, very heavily on first responders and witnesses. It shouldn't happen."

Floral tributes are growing at the site of the tragedy.

After crashing the car, police allege the 17-year-old then stole a set of keys from a nearby property and attempted to start a car in the garage.

He fled when approached by the owner of the home before being arrested by police a short time later, police allege.

https://twitter.com/JordanFabris9/status/1354241033568063489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

He was taken to hospital for soft tissue injuries before being detained overnight.

The boy has been charged with two counts of murder, one count of dangerous driving while intoxicated, two counts of burglary, and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Police said additional charges may be laid as investigations continue and have urged anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward.

By RNZ As health officials investigate two new possible cases of Covid-19 linked to the Pullman Hotel, community-run Covid-19 checkpoints will be operating in Northland from Thursday, without police support.Te Tai Tokerau is…

A bank employee who stole money to fund a high-flying lifestyle filled with private jets and luxury holidays has been jailed.

While working as the chief of staff at the National Australia Bank, Rosemary Rogers pocketed $5.5 million in bribes.

The bribes included a month-long holiday to the US worth $500,000, a luxury BMW, two boats, a holiday home, a trip to a private Fijian island and multiple stays at expensive resorts.

Rogers stayed at the six-star Emirates resort at Wolgan Valley in NSW, which costs $3000 a night, multiple times.

Her alleged accomplice, Helen Rosemond, is the head of a luxury travel company and is accused of paying Rogers the bribes in exchange for her signing off on inflated invoices sent to NAB.

Rosemond is awaiting trial.

But Rogers' lifestyle began to unravel in December 2017 after an anonymous whistleblower notified the board of NAB.

Today, Rogers' barrister Mark Tedschi QC said her actions were driven by stress.

She was sentenced to a maximum of eight years in jail after being found guilty of more than 30 bribery, corruption and fraud charges.

"NAB has zero tolerance for any criminal activity. Where criminal conduct is identified, we will refer it to the police," NAB Chief Legal Counsel Sharon Cook said in a statement.

"Since becoming aware of the issue, we have made changes to strengthen controls in our organisation, including changing delegations and introducing additional checks on expenses.

"As there is a second party involved who is still before the Court, NAB is unable to comment further on this matter. We are taking court action to recover the proceeds of the alleged fraud."

A body has been found in the Waikato River.But the person’s identity is yet to be confirmedThe body was found about 2.30pm close to Grantham St in central Hamilton.”Police are currently working to establish the person’s identity…

Australia is yet to decide if it will lift its travel suspension with New Zealand after the country recorded two more cases of a highly-infectious variant of COVID-19.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said a decision over lifting the green zone suspension will be made tomorrow.

Australia suspended flights to New Zealand for 72 hours on Tuesday after a returned traveller tested positive for the South African variant of COVID-19, which is known to be far more contagious.

The traveller, a 56-year-old woman, returned a positive last week after staying in managed isolation at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. She tested negative twice.

Professor Kidd said the two new virus cases in New Zealand were staying at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland.

"The situation is evolving rapidly," he told media.

"We will be following up the details of both of these cases with the New Zealand authorities once further details, including the results of additional testing, are known.

"The Australian Government has not made a decision about whether to lift the pause on green zone flights at this time."

All close contacts of the woman who tested positive for coronavirus in New Zealand last week have returned negative tests.

Health officials in New Zealand reported four new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, but all were returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said of the 16 close contacts tested, only 11 were considered "true close contacts" and all remained in isolation.

READ MORE: Theory South African strain moved through NZ hotel's AC system

Mr Bloomfield said there were "encouraging signs" in Northland, where the woman travelled to after leaving Auckland, but the situation was still unfolding.

"We're not breathing out just yet," he said.

Mr Bloomfield said 353 guests left the Pullman Hotel during a period of potential risk, but 255 have so far returned negative tests.

All test results from the staff of the hotel have come back negative so far, he said.

The woman is known to have visited 30 venues between leaving the Pullman and finding out she was COVID-19 positive.

Officials have established 327 people visited at least one location the Northland woman had been.

Test results were still being confirmed, Mr Bloomfield said, but 127 had so far come back negative.

Officials are still to confirm how the woman caught the virus.

Analysis showed she contracted it somehow from a fellow returnee quarantining in a room next door.

That prompted unproven speculation the virus could have moved through the hotel's air conditioning system.

Health authorities are still investigating.

New Zealand has not started a vaccination program and it does not have a date when they could potential deploy one of the successful vaccines.

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