The week got off to a tragic start with a crime against Kiwifruit committed in the Prime Minister’s office. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern posted an image to her instagram feed showing her Kiwifruit soft-toy (a gift from Zespri following…

Former Police Commissioner Mike Bush said he has spoken with young people committing ram raids, who revealed to him they are “stealing to order” for more established criminals.Bush, who served as the country’s top cop between 2014…

The Government’s new public media entity will witness the loss of a third of TVNZ’s existing commercial revenue, equating to about $100 million a year, within five years, according to advice from officials. This lost revenue will…

A young father has died just months before marrying the love of his life after he was electrocuted in a freak workplace accident.

David Outhwaite was described to 9News as "sunshine in human form" by his devastated fiancé, Jodi Dunlop, as she came to grips with the tragedy.

The 36-year-old – who recently started his own business – was killed Friday afternoon while working on a power pole at a private Thompson Road property in Nirimba, a suburb south of Perth in Western Australia.

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Dunlop said she was "broken", adding her partner "made the world and everyone around him better", especially for his 16-month-old daughter.

Fellow electrician and football coach Owen McLarty said he heard someone had died and started calling sparkies in the area.

"Dave was one that didn't respond," McLarty said.

"I had a horrible feeling it could be Dave.

"Just feel sad… bit of an empty sick feeling in your guts I suppose.

"He was very vocal around the footy club and in the ressies he actually ended up captaining a few games of the season, from that view he's a respected leader – and just a genuine person."

WA's energy safety watchdog said it appeared the installation was still energised with live electricity when the electrician started working on it, which usually shouldn't be the case.

Its investigation now aims to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.

Forbes may be swallowed by floodwaters but it hasn't stopped the thirst of some women who paddled kayaks to the local pub for a beer.

The New South Wales town has been hit by major flooding as the Lachlan River continues to rise.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects a prolonged peak of about 10.7 metres on Saturday evening.

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The flood has devasted the town, but two local women are keeping spirits up by cruising through the submerged streets on their kayaks with fishing rods ready to catch anything that swam by.

Video shows the pair paddle down a main street towards the pub.

"Flick a few lures," a man calls out to them from the pub's balcony.

"Yeah she's trolling, she's trolling past the traffic lights."

The two then beach their vessels and get themselves a bottle of beer each.

It was a light-hearted moment for a town that has been through a very tough few days, and has more hard times ahead.

NSW SES spokesperson Ashley Sullivan said about 500 homes are on evacuation orders in Forbes.

"Until that water recedes and we can get in and do those damage assessments we're not going to know the full impact but this is a significant flood for Forbes," Sullivan said.

https://twitter.com/WesternWilson9/status/1588738697293594626

"It has inundated many properties here in Forbes and there is more to come as this river continues to rise in the next couple of days.

This major flood peak is forecast to pass through Cottons Weir during Saturday evening and will be at levels not seen since 1952.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke warned the disaster was not over.

"The risk has not abated in relation to the amount of water that is in our river systems," Cooke said.

NSW residents can stay up to date with the latest emergency warnings at the SES website.

The bodies of two people, believed to be a mother and son, have been found in a pond in the outskirts of Canberra.

Police are now searching the area for eight-year-old boy Pranav Vivekanandan, after expressing "serious concerns" for his welfare.

"While an extensive land and water search for Pranav has been underway since the discovery of two bodies in Yerrabi Pond this morning, police and family are issuing this plea in the event that he is alive and someone knows his whereabouts," ACT Police said.

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Pranav is described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, about 110cm tall, with short dark hair, and dark brown eyes.

He may have been wearing an orange T-shirt and light-coloured shorts, and a jacket.

ACT Police were given reports of a body in Yerrabi Pond, in the outer Canberra suburb of Gungahlin, at about 8am on Saturday.

When maritime officers from the Australian Federal Police arrived at the scene, they found the two bodies of the woman and boy. 

Police and State Emergency Service volunteers were initially searching the pond and nearby parkland for a missing girl.

They later clarified they are searching for a missing boy.

"It's obviously a tragic situation, it's still very early days and it's unfolding," Detective Superintendent Hall O'Meagher said.

"We're making inquiries with the family of these deceased people.

"They're assisting us with our inquiries at this time.

"Our thoughts go out to them and also to the responding police who have had to deal with this tragic circumstance."

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

An Australian man recently killed in Ukraine has been remembered by loved ones as a "treasured" family member.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed on Saturday that Queensland man Trevor Kjeldal has died in Ukraine, where it is believed he was fighting on the front lines for the army against Russia's invasion.

In a statement released by the family, Kjeldal was described as "a very treasured and loved member of our family".

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"Our depth of sadness at his loss is unfathomable," they said.

"We would like to thank DFAT for their ongoing assistance in bringing him home to us."

A DFAT spokesperson said on Saturday that Kjeldal's family is receiving consular assistance.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered his condolences at a press conference on Saturday.

"My heart goes out to the family and friends of the gentleman involved," he said.

READ MORE: Bodies of mother, son found in pond in Canberra

"I remind people that the DFAT advice is that you should not travel to Ukraine.

"It's a dangerous place."

A DFAT spokesperson said "we send our deepest condolences to the family" and stated the family's request for privacy "during this difficult time".

Kjeldal is the third Australian to lose his life in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February.

A pregnant woman who was rescued from floods in New South Wales by the SES after her waters broke has safely given birth to a baby boy.

First-time parents Chitra and Mamata Pun Rana welcomed their boy Imaan into the world on Saturday afternoon in Forbes Hospital.

The baby had a dramatic arrival, after the couple was cut off from the hospital by floodwaters after Mamata's water broke on Friday.

READ MORE: Highest flood in 70 years likely at Forbes

Off-duty midwife Judi went to the home and decided it was time for Mamata to go to hospital.

SES volunteers arrived to safely transfer the mother across the floodwater to the hospital.

Rescuer Ryan Jones said the water was "too deep and dangerous" for private vehicles.

"The only way for us to access this patient was via use of our high clearance vehicles," Jones said.

The deluge was around 400mm deep, with flowing water and suspected sewage and other contaminants in the water.

The maternity team at Forbes Hospital then helped Mamata deliver her baby.

"Little Imaan came into the world this afternoon, much to the delight of both his parents and the hospital staff who supported the couple throughout the birth. We're pleased to confirm mum and bub are doing well," a NSW Health spokesperson said.

"Congratulations to Mamata and Chitra, who are over the moon and now enjoying plenty of cuddles with little Imaan, who is blissfully unaware of the incredible circumstances surrounding his delivery."

Jones' emulated the efforts of his father Kevin Jones, Unit Commander of the Hawkesbury SES Unit, who rescued a pregnant woman in the 1978 floods.

"They actually named the baby after the two SES members who helped," he said.

The Lachlan River at Forbes is expected to peak at 10.8 metres later today.

Armed police are on the streets of a city suburb this afternoon after a second serious incident in West Auckland today.Police would only confirm they are “attending an incident in Kelston” with updates to follow “in due course”.But…

Aged care workers will receive a 15 per cent interim pay rise in what is a "promising first step" in reforming the sector, according to Aged Care Minister Anika Wells.

The workers will get an extra four dollars per hour, after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled on Friday the existing minimum rates did not "properly compensate employees for the value".

Wells said the pay rise was "desperately needed" and something the workers "thoroughly deserved".

READ MORE: Highest flood in 70 years likely at Forbes

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said things needed to change otherwise there would not be anyone to look after older Australians.

"The interim report of the aged care royal commission was titled with one word, 'neglect'," he said.

"It documented over half of the aged care residents not getting the nutrition they need."

READ MORE: Pregnant woman in labour rescued from floodwaters by NSW SES 

He said the decision also worked toward closing the gender pay gap as 85 per cent of the workers in the sector are female.

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The union wanted a 25 per cent pay boost but the FWC has left open the possibility of recommending more increases.

Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott said it was a win for low-paid workers in a feminised industry.

"It shows that the awards system can lift the wages of hundreds of thousands of Australians when it works," Westacott said.

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"The determining factor in many feminised industries like aged care and childcare is government funding, so we welcome the government's commitment to paying for this increase.

"We want low-paid people to earn more and the awards system is the best place to do it."

About 300,000 aged care workers will receive the pay rise.