New ferries are not due until 2029, leaving years of reliance on older vessels.

The Motueka boy died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 7.

Kathleen Davies hit the 92-year-old as he crossed a Hamilton road on his scooter.

ANZ has followed the other big four banks in predicting triple rate hike pain for Aussie borrowers.

CBA, Westpac and NAB yesterday shifted their cash rate predictions due to inflation running too hot, a stretched labour market, and the war in the Middle East – which is likely to add to inflation.

All four big banks now anticipate the Reserve Bank will increase the cash rate 25 basis points when it meets next Tuesday, and by the same margin at the following meeting in May.

READ MORE: Aussies could pay more for groceries as farmers hit by dual fertiliser and fuel hike due to Iran war

The RBA increased the interest rate by 0.25 per cent at its most recent meeting on February 3, to 3.85 per cent.

A triple hike would bring the cash rate to 4.35 per cent.

Across three prospective hikes in February, March and May, a borrower with a million-dollar mortgage would pay an extra $453 every month.

The major banks cited high inflation and the instability brought on by the conflict in Iran as the reasons why they were now forecasting what would end up being three consecutive rate hikes.

"With inflation above target and the labour market tight, the inflation risks are likely to be more central for the board than risks around activity," ANZ's economic team said.

"The increased inflation risks will exacerbate those concerns, creating more urgency to move quickly to contain inflation expectations."

READ MORE: Aussie software giant Atlassian cuts 1600 jobs in push to AI

NAB and Westpac yesterday said the RBA's decision would rely on developments in the war in the Middle East and its impact on oil prices and the wider market.

"Much will depend on the trajectory of oil prices and the domestic data flow, and we see two-sided risks around our new central case for a 4.35 per cent peak," NAB said in a statement yesterday.

Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis said a swift resolution to the war, and subsequent fall in oil prices "would mean that the expected March hike would not be followed up in May".

"Again, this is not our base case, but we will keep the possibility under review," Ellis said.

Westpac said the effect of higher oil prices on inflation was "large but temporary" but believes the RBA will "nevertheless feel compelled to react".

Canstar Data Insights Director Sally Tindall said war in the Middle East "has cast a huge cloud of uncertainty over the [rates] decision".

"While the short-term impact of the conflict will push up prices, particularly fuel, the longer-term damage to the economy and jobs market is not yet clear," she said.

"If the Westpac and NAB forecasts prove accurate, the RBA would deliver three back-to-back rate hikes across February, March and May – a scenario that would add further pressure to already stretched household budgets."

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Oil prices could skyrocket past $US150 a barrel due to disruption caused by the Middle East conflict, Australia's largest bank has warned.

Commonwealth Bank economists said the global benchmark Brent oil could surge to between $US120 and $US150 per barrel ($168 to $210), which would discourage demand for the crucial resource in developing economies once there is a local shortage.

However, the report said the price could rise beyond $US150 if advanced economies need to set a higher price to weaken demand.

LIVE: Wong tells Aussie expats in the Middle East to get out now

READ MORE: Trump denies knowledge of report blaming US for school bombing

The war in Iran has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy-shipping route between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, where around 19 per cent of global oil supply passes.

This morning, Brent crude oil jumped above $US100 a barrel.

CBA said that, while some oil can be exported from Gulf states through alternate routes, the majority of it cannot.

"Oil is the only energy commodity that has potential to bypass the Strait of Hormuz," CBA commodities strategist Vivek Dhar wrote.

"We estimate that only three to five per cent of global supply can bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

READ MORE: Joe Rogan pans Donald Trump's 'insane' actions in Iran

"That means the effective disruption to global oil markets amounts to 14 to 16 per cent of global supply."

CBA economists believe the war will last for months rather than weeks, which it said hadn't been taken into account by global energy markets.

"Our view that energy markets are not fully pricing in the disruption posed by the Middle East conflict ultimately comes down to the expected length of the current disruption," Dhar said.

"Our expectation that this crisis could last for months instead of weeks likely means that markets are underestimating the disruption to global energy markets."

READ MORE: Treasurer confronted over fuel shortage, price rise

He added that, if the war isn't ended soon, "oil and refined product prices are at risk of rising to levels not seen in history".

"This would seem to make it intolerable for the world to remain unmoved. This helps explain why energy markets are so reluctant to fully price an extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote in his report.

"On the other hand, the US will not want to leave without achieving its strategic goals and risk emboldening Iran and its proxies.

"This is yet another example of geopolitics clashing with economics in this new era.

"This adds a wildcard element to the outlook."

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An outbreak of measles in Sydney has been predominantly linked to return travellers from Southeast Asia.

A report from NSW Health said of the 60 cases of the highly infectious disease seen in the state since the start of last year, over half had come from people who had travelled in the region.

While Australia has officially been measles-free since 2014, it is common in several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, which is a popular tourist destination for Australians.

LIVE UPDATES: Fireball after drones hit oil facilities in Oman

It comes as Sydney battles a growing outbreak of measles, with two more cases confirmed late yesterday, taking the current tally of people infected with the disease since January 1 to 26.

An alert said one of the cases was acquired locally, but the source of the other infection was unknown.

JUST IN: Aussies face surging grocery prices as farmers hit by Iran war double-whammy

"It is likely measles is currently circulating within the community, and other people may have been unknowingly exposed to measles," NSW Health said in a statement.

Several new exposure sites have been revealed, including restaurants and healthcare centres on the Northern Beaches and north shore, as well as in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

People who were at the Summer Dance Festival at Liberty Hall Courts in Moore Park on Saturday, March 7th have been told to monitor for symptoms of measles until March 25, with the disease sometimes taking 18 days before it shows itself.

"Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body," Dr Christine Selvey from NSW Health said.

WORLD: Joe Rogan pans Donald Trump's 'insane' actions in Iran

Health officials say vaccination is the quickest and safest way to protect yourself from contracting measles.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is free for anyone in NSW born after 1965, and is given to babies when they are 12 months and 18 months old.

Selvey said those overseas should be aware of their vaccination status before they travel.

"This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment."

You can find a full list of current exposure sites here.

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Astonishing vision has captured the moment a dog was pulled from the window of a car surrounded by crocodile-infested rapids in the Northern Territory.

Crews were called to Tony Green Crossing, west of Katherine, yesterday afternoon where a car had become stuck in floodwaters on the crossing.

A passing helicopter dropped a police officer on top of the car, who helped extract the stranded driver and passenger.

READ MORE: Bodies found in search for two missing Chinese backpackers after car located in floodwaters

The chopper then returned to the car, where the police officer hoisted the large dog from the window into the helicopter.

All of the occupants are safe, NT Emergency Service's Katherine Volunteer Unit said.

Parts of the Northern Territory have been inundated by the worst flooding in decades over the past week, causing mass evacuations and school closures.

Darwin residents were ordered to boil their water on Tuesday after heavy rainfall resulted in the Darwin River Dam surging to record levels and overflow.

Parts of the Top End remain on flood watch today as a stubborn tropical low crawls across the state in a south-westerly direction.

READ MORE: Police to continue Gus Lamont search as rain could expose fresh ground

A major flood warning remains in place for the Lower Daly and Waterhouse rivers, while the Katherine River is under moderate flood watch, according to the BoM.

Heavy rain is expected to continue across the NT into the weekend.

Authorities earlier this week urged locals to stay out of floodwaters in Katherine, partially due to the risk of crocodiles lurking in the water.

"There are crocs absolutely everywhere. Please don't go in the water," NT incident control acting commander, Shaun Gill, said at a press conference on Sunday.

"Don't swim in the water for two reasons: it's because it's a fast-flowing river, and also this is when crocs are most active."

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A Queensland aviation company owner will face court today after allegedly trying to smuggle two wanted men into Indonesia on a "black flight".

It is alleged that the Woolshed man, who owns a central Queensland aviation company, organised a flight to sneak two alleged Australian fugitives to Indonesia and only listed the two co-pilots as people on board the flight.

The 43-year-old was arrested yesterday after Australian Federal Police executed search warrants in south-east Queensland and Rockhampton.

READ MORE: Security scare after Iranian player's change of heart over asylum decision

It was allegedly found that the two undeclared passengers were wanted by NSW Police for kidnapping and drug charges.

Police said the 34-year-old undeclared passenger was on bail for kidnapping offences and was under strict conditions to not leave the state.

His 35-year-old counterpart allegedly had three outstanding arrest warrants, including for large commercial drug supply and manufacturing.

The Australian co-pilot and the two men have been in Indonesian immigration detention since November 17 last year, and the plane used to fly the men to the nation was seized by Indonesian immigration.

Investigations by the AFP found that the Woolshed man allegedly had coordinated an extensive network of charter flights across multiple planes and companies over a week in an attempt to smuggle the men from NSW to North Queensland to Indonesia.

The first flight with the two fugitives took off from Orange in NSW on November 10 and headed to Cape York, police said.

Over the week, the two men were allegedly transported via helicopters and light aircraft to multiple locations in Far North Queensland.

Police said they caught a charter flight to Port Stewart and then boarded the "black flight", which allegedly did not activate its transponder between Coen and Port Stewart.

Once the plane was over international waters, the transponder was allegedly turned back on.

The Queensland aviation company owner was due to face Ipswich Court today and faces up to 10 years imprisonment after being charged with two counts of people smuggling. 

"Black flights attempting to exploit the remoteness of North Queensland can try to fly under the radar by turning off transponders, but every time they land and take off at a remote airstrip, they attract attention," AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.

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Another statue of Donald Trump and the late Jeffrey Epstein has appeared in the heart of America's capital, Washington.

The anonymous artist collective known as "The Secret Handshake" has struck again, erecting the four-metre-tall statue, which depicts the president and the disgraced financier in the iconic "king of the world" pose from the film Titanic.

Spray-painted in a garish gold, the installation features Trump standing behind Epstein on a replica of the ship's bow, both peering towards the Washington Monument. It is the latest in a series of hit-and-run satirical installations designed to force the American public to confront the historical ties between the two men.

READ MORE: Joe Rogan pans Donald Trump's 'insane' actions in Iran

The base of the statue carries a biting inscription, comparing the film's Jack and Rose romance to the Trump-Epstein connection: "This monument honours the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches."

While the White House has previously dismissed such works as partisan stunts — with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson questioning when "wealthy Democrat donors" would create similar sculptures of their own party members — the reaction on the ground in DC reveals a nation deeply divided by its own political theatre.

The Washington Post reported the installation had become an overnight pilgrimage site for tourists and locals alike, eliciting a mixture of "praise and scorn".

For many passersby, the statue is a necessary reminder of unanswered questions. Local resident Donna Powell told the Post she appreciated the bluntness of the message.

"With Trump declaring war on Iran, we know he's trying to distract from the Epstein files," Powell said. "This brings the files back to the forefront. A lot can be said with art."

While some said they saw the very existence of the — placed just metres from the US Capitol — as proof that the First Amendment remains alive and well, others were not so sure.

One visitor from Pennsylvania, identified only as Josh, told the newspaper that he steered his young children away from the crowd. "I don't love seeing it here," he said. "It's a little distasteful and it's not really helping the conversation."

In September, the same group of artists erected a sculpture of the Republican president and Epstein gleefully holding hands in front of the Capitol. It was promptly removed.

The same collective also created a poop statue criticising January 6 rioters and a large replica of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein.

The National Park Service permit for the installation reportedly had its end date redacted, leaving it unclear how long the golden duo will remain.

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One of Donald Trump's most influential backers in the last election has turned on him over his actions in Iran.

Speaking on his podcast, Joe Rogan has decried the president beginning a war.

"It just seems so insane based on what (Trump) ran on," Rogan said.

READ MORE: Trump denies knowledge of report blaming US for school bombing

"This is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? 

"He ran on no more wars and these stupid, senseless wars.

"Then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it."

His guest Michael Shellenberger clarified that Trump said he was against "endless wars".

"They're all endless. Do you ever hear (former secretary of defence Donald) Rumsfeld talk about Iraq when it first happened?" Rogan said.

"They were talking about like six weeks."

Rogan's endorsement of Trump was seen as a major factor in his unexpectedly strong performance in the 2024 election.

Unlike many other podcasters, Rogan does not position himself as a political partisan.

The podcaster has a vast support base among an elusive demographic – men who don't otherwise follow the news.

The Joe Rogan Experience has been the most popular podcast on Spotify for the past five years.

His remarks on Iran are not the first time Rogan has broken with the president.

In January he compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Gestapo.

"You don't want militarised people in the streets just roaming around snatching people up, many of which turn out to actually be US citizens that just don't have their papers on them," Rogan said.

"Are we really going to be the Gestapo? 'Where's your papers?' Is that what we've come to?"

Polling has shown Trump's attack on Iran to be deeply unpopular among American voters.

READ MORE: Security scare after Iranian player's change of heart over asylum decision

Fifty-three per cent of voters opposed the military action, according to a poll from Quinnipiac.

Just 40 per cent support it.

Sixty-two per cent of voters think the Trump administration has not given a clear explanation as to why they have attacked Iran.

The same poll showed Trump's approval rating to be at just 37 per cent.

READ MORE: Uncorroborated claim about Trump in missing Epstein files

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