An Auckland builder says MIQ is cruel and inhumane after watching his mother in Ireland die on a video call early this morning.Irish-born Paul Mullally was teary telling the story of an unresponsive system as he waited and waited…

A person is in a serious condition after crashing into a brick wall in Leithfield, North Canterbury, this evening.A police spokesperson says they received reports of a quad bike crash just after 7pm.Emergency services are at the…

A family of five has been rescued from the swollen Nepean River in Penrith after their boat capsized this afternoon.

The family got into trouble just after 3.15pm when their boat overturned on the river, requiring a police helicopter to winch them all to safety.

A man has been taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical but stable condition.

READ MORE: Hillsong founder Brian Houston steps aside as global leader

A five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were taken to the Children's Hospital at Westmead in stable conditions.

A 34-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were taken to Nepean Hospital in stable conditions.

Police said early investigations suggest the swelling of the river may have played a role in the capsize.

The emergency operation comes just four days after a woman lost her life in the exact same location.

For the first time, Jacinda Ardern’s approval rating trails that of a rival, with a 1News Kantar Public poll tonight showing the PM’s net approval at just +15, plummeting from +55 at the election.It is Ardern’s lowest approval rating…

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has stepped aside as the global senior pastor of the Pentecostal church to defend a charge alleging he covered up his father's child sexual abuse.

Mr Houston was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence of another person in October last year. He has stated he intends to plead not guilty and defend the charge.

The 67-year-old is accused of knowing about the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s involving his late father Frank Houston – but failing to tell police.

READ MORE: Australian Olympic Team member tests positive for COVID-19

Mr Houston released statement today on the church's website.

"Last year, I also received unexpected news of charges against me that allege the concealing of information that may have been material to prosecute Frank Houston," Mr Houston said.

"These allegations came as a shock to me, and it is my intention to vigorously defend them."

Mr Houston said he stepped aside as a director of all Hillsong boards in September last year, in order to "give attention" to the charges.

However, he received fresh legal advice last month that it would be "best practice" for him to step aside completely from church leadership during the court proceedings.

The court processes were likely to be drawn out throughout 2022, Mr Houston added.

READ MORE: Warning issued about Viagogo after Wiggles tickets listed for $707

"The board and I have had detailed discussion around the requirements for leadership," he said.

"We have talked about the effects of the situation with my father, which go back many years up to the current legal case, and the impact this has had on me emotionally.

"The result is that the Hillsong Global Board feel it is in my and the church's best interest for this to happen, so I have agreed to step aside from all ministry responsibilities until the end of the year."

Mr Houston said he needed to be "fully committed to preparation and engagement with the case and work closely with my lawyers in defending this charge".

"I have said, including in a prior statement, that I intend to fight the charge and welcome the opportunity to set the record straight."

Mr Houston said his wife Bobbie will continue her involvement in the church.

A man died following a motorcycle crash in Waikato today.The crash happened on Whangamarino Rd, Rangiriri.Emergency services responded to the crash shortly before 1pm, but the motorcyclist died at the scene, police said.”The…

There are three new Covid-19 locations of interest in the Whanganui District Health Board region – in the Rangitīkei and Ruapehu districts. BP Connect in Bulls, Taylors in Hunterville and the National Army Museum Waiouru were…

Mandatory face masks and on-demand rapid antigen test kits will form the strategy of Queensland's back to school plan released today.

Starting from February 7, the plan will see mandatory mask wearing for all staff in all schools and for all high school students.

Masks are "strongly encouraged" for students in Years 3 to 6 and will be supplied to primary schools.

READ MORE: NSW records 52 deaths, more than 13,500 new cases of COVID-19

Unlike Victoria and New South Wales, Queensland will not ask students to conduct twice-weekly rapid antigen tests as a form of surveillance testing.

Instead, rapid antigen tests will be made available to schools for use on students and staff who develop COVID-19 symptoms while on site.

If a member of a school community develops COVID-19 symptoms while at home, they can attend a local Queensland Health testing clinic where they will be given priority access to a rapid antigen test.

READ MORE: NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Arden self-isolating

For the first four weeks of on-site learning from February 7 to March 4, all school camps, excursions, assemblies and large gatherings are suspended.

Visitors to schools will be limited with the exception of parents and carers of students experiencing vulnerability, and all students attending Early Childhood Development Programs, Kindergarten, Prep or Year 1.

"Teachers can remove their masks to teach and students can remove them when seated. And like I said, masks will be available at school," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

"It's really important to the whole school community, if you are sick, stay at home. Don't go to school. Just like we say in the workplace – if you are sick, don't go to work."

READ MORE: As Boris Johnson waits, UK police seek cuts to 'partygate' report

If a student becomes symptomatic at school, they will be isolated from the rest of the community and their parents will be contacted to collect them.

If a staff member becomes symptomatic at school, they will leave immediately and will be provided with a RAT to administer at home.

In both cases, if the RAT test is negative and the student or staff member is otherwise well, they can return to school the next day.

The NSW government is warning people not to purchase tickets from online ticket reseller Viagogo amid ongoing complaints.

Fair Trading minister Eleni Petinos said consumers have lodged 510 complaints since June 2018, with claims of "tickets being sold at hugely inflated prices".

This includes reports four tickets to The Wiggles were advertised at $707, when the face value of the tickets was $43.70 each or $174.80 for four.

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There are also claims two tickets to Paw Patrol were sold for $287 when the face value of the tickets was $58 for two and two tickets to a Sydney Comedy Festival event were sold for $356 when the face value of the tickets was $32.90 or $65.80 for two.

"There have also been complaints that Viagogo issued consumers with fraudulent or fake tickets, failed to supply consumers with tickets purchased and issued tickets that differed to those advertised or purchased," Ms Petinos said.

NSW Fair Trading alleges Viagogo has breached the Fair Trading Act (1987) and Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

"When it comes to transactions between Australian-based consumers and off-shore businesses, I urge consumers to heed our warnings and refrain from doing business with companies such as Viagogo that refuse to comply with Australian law," Ms Petinos said.

"Since June 2018, consumers have lodged 510 complaints against Viagogo with NSW Fair Trading, with many involving tickets being sold at hugely inflated prices."

READ MORE: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden self-isolating after being deemed a close contact

"There have also been complaints that Viagogo issued consumers with fraudulent or fake tickets, failed to supply consumers with tickets purchased and issued tickets that differed to those advertised or purchased."

"Other complaints have alleged Viagogo made false or misleading representations about being an authorised ticket seller for certain events."

Ms Petinos claimed Viagogo refused to meet with NSW Fair Trading to discuss the matters in late 2021 and release details of 15 specific transactions requested by NSW Fair Trading.

READ MORE: 'We didn't come here to play tennis': The refugees left behind at the Park Hotel

NSW Fair Trading announced in July 2021 Viagogo was under investigation for potential breaches of the Fair Trading Act and ACL.

A spokesperson for the company told The Sydney Morning Herald Viagogo took all complaints very seriously.

"Our customers are protected by the viagogo guarantee, which ensures that buyers receive valid tickets in time for the event and if a problem arises, viagogo will step in to provide comparable replacement tickets or a refund," the spokesperson said.

"We will continue working to make sure our platform is compliant."

The company did not respond to allegations it had failed to meet with Fair Trading.

Nine.com.au has contacted Viagogo for comment.

Pregnant Kiwi journalist Charlotte Bellis has been offered asylum by another country since going public about her struggle to secure an MIQ spot so she can return to New Zealand to give birth. Speaking to RNZ overnight from Kabul,…