One person has died after being trapped under a truck in Pōkeno.Shortly after 6pm today police received a report of a person trapped under a truck at Dean Rd.Emergency services went to the property south of Auckland but the…

A man has been charged with murder after two men were shot dead in what police believe to have been a "neighbour dispute" in Melbourne's south-east.

Police arrived at a property on McDonald Street in Mordialloc, about 24km south-east of the CBD, following reports of gunshots about 9.10pm.

Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said police found neighbours treating two men, aged 72 and 62, who had been shot.

Both men died at the scene.

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Multiple shots were fired during the incident.

Detective Inspector Thomas said police then began searching for the shooter and were confronted by an armed 73-year-old man, who pointed a gun at police.

An officer fire a shot at the man but missed him.

Detective Inspector Thomas said the man then retreated into a home and after some time, surrendered to police.

The Mordialloc man has this afternoon been charged with two counts of murder, conduct endangering life and seriously assaulting police.

He is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court later this evening.

This morning Detective Inspector Thomas said it was early stages in the investigation but investigators "believed it to be some sort of neighbour dispute".

The shooting occurred in a block of units, with all parties involved believed to be residents.

Police are calling for anyone who was in the area at the time and who might have dashcam footage or information to contact police.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

The Black Summer bushfires left a devastating mark on Australia and on our wildlife.

A new bushfire training course is now being offered nationwide to prepare vets across the country to help wildlife in need.

Taronga Wildlife Hospital vet, Dr Larry Vogelnest, developed the specialist program.

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After 32 years of treating injured animals, and seeing the disastrous mark left by bushfires, he recognised the need for further training.

"It became very apparent early in 2020 that there was a need to build capacity among general practice vets and vet nurses to learn more about Australian wildlife and how to treat burns patients," Dr Vogelnest said.

It was in those very fires images of an injured koala went viral around the globe during the horror season.

The animal, named Lewis, became a global symbol of the Black Summer disaster, his injuries raising awareness around the need to care for our wildlife.  

"Seeing burnt animals, seeing animals suffering is awful. It's just awful," Dr Vogelnest said.

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So far, $2 million has been put into the program and its development, with the course providing important first response information to ensure native animals are appropriately cared for and treated.

"When we have future fire events we know that many of our vets and vet nurses will be equipped to receive injured animals, treat them and make them better," Environment Minister Sussan Ley said.

More than 3200 veterinary staff have already accessed the program, including some from overseas.

"Even though it focuses on Australian species, the principles are the same," he said.

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The course is online and is free to access for all vets and vet nurses.

"It's wonderful to see that we've got this funding to really build our capacity as a nation to really care for our wildlife in a way they need to be cared for," Cameron Kerr, CEO of the Taronga Conservation Society, said.

Hillsong Church will not be fined by NSW Police for hosting a youth camp resembling a music festival in Newcastle, despite the state's ban on singing and dancing under public health orders.

NSW Police issued a statement that "no infringement will be issued" to the organisers of the event.

"NSW Police have attended an event in the Newcastle area and have spoken with organisers," Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Glynn said.

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"Following discussions with organisers and after consultation with NSW Health, no infringement will be issued.

"Event organisers are aware of their obligations under the Public Health Orders, and NSW Police will continue to ensure ongoing compliance."

It comes after a Hillsong spokesperson confirmed yesterday an "annual high school aged youth camp" was underway at Glenrock State Conservation Park in Newcastle.

Witnesses said the church's camp resembled a music festival, with tents set up with live music and DJs playing along with "a lot of people".

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Hillsong has denied any claims that the camp was a music festival.

"These events are our annual high school aged youth camps, and are not similar to a music festival in any way," a Hillsong spokesperson said in a statement.

"Our camps involve primarily outdoor recreational activities including sports and games.

"We follow strict COVID procedures and adhere to government guidelines.

"Outdoor Christian services are held during the camp but these are only a small part of the program, and any singing is only a small part of each service."

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The community and state politicians are outraged by the event.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Hillsong event was "clearly in breach of both the spirit and intent of the order, which is in place to help keep the community safe".

Today, Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was "completely shocked".

"I echo the frustration and anger that other people across the state felt," he said.

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Locals dubbed the event a "double standard" after the Grapevine Gathering music festival was recently cancelled due to the public health orders.

Under NSW public health orders, singing and dancing at music festivals, hospitality venues, nightclubs, entertainment facilities and major recreation facilities is prohibited to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

Gold Coast residents have joined forces with an off-duty police officer to rescue eight ducklings trapped in a storm drain.

Residents in the suburb of Robina had come to the ducklings' aid, using a crowbar and net to prise open the drain.

Video footage captured the reunion of the ducklings with their parents.

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"If someone can just grab them out of there for me please," one resident said as the ducklings were scooped to safety.

The family of ducks were uninjured, as Robina residents watched the reunited family continue on their way.

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An American horror film made in and around Whanganui in 2021 will be released in March this year. The film, called X, is based around the making of an adult film at a secluded Texas farmhouse.Created by A24 Films, filming took…

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has confirmed a week-long reporting failure in notifying close and casual contacts of COVID-19.

Mr Gunner said those who had checked into venues using the Northern Territory's check-in app over the last week had not been notified if they had visited exposure sites.

"We were advised that over the past week, these messages were not sent. There is no excuse for this," Mr Gunner said. 

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A Northern Territory government staffer has been dismissed over the incident.

"The person responsible for tasking this has been stood down from the emergency operations centre and will return to regular duties," Mr Gunner said.

"We asked for an update on how it was all going and that's how we discovered it hadn't been actioned.

"Unfortunately there has been that gap."

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From 3pm today, those who have entered COVID-19 exposure sites over the last week will be notified.

"I am sorry this did not happen, nothing excuses it," Mr Gunner said.

"It will happen now."

Mr Gunner confirmed 546 new cases of COVID-19 had been recorded in the Territory, bringing total case numbers to 3300. 

Twenty-seven people have been hospitalised and one person is in intensive care.

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A man has been found dead after a woman was evacuated from a house fire in Melbourne's south-east.

Emergency services were called to a house on fire in Wilshire Court in Endeavour Hills around 6.30pm yesterday.

Firefighters were on the scene within six minutes and found the whole house was already overtaken by fire, according to Fire Rescue Victoria.

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They searched the home and evacuated a woman in her 70s who was found inside.

She was taken to Dandenong Hospital for observation.

A man was found dead inside the house.

Firefighters brought the fire under control in 29 minutes.

Police are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

A self-described Head Hunters gang member and 501 deportee who hid loaded guns underneath the floorboards of his wardrobe has been sentenced to community service after a judge noted what she said was a remarkable effort to turn his…

South Australia has recorded 5679 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with modelling revealing the Omicron peak is still yet to come but likely less severe than first thought.

Premier Steven Marshall said 1747 of the new cases were from positive rapid antigen test results.

Six people have died after testing positive to the virus.

LIVE UPDATES: Death toll rises in NSW and Victoria as cases surge

There are now 246 people in hospital and 20 people in ICU with eight people on ventilators in South Australia.

"So, a reduction in ICU, an increase of one on a ventilator, but also an increase in hospitalisation," Mr Marshall said.

Mr Marshall said there needs to be "caution" when interpreting the case numbers today.

"We were told by SA Pathology that because the previous day we were getting samples in much later, up until midnight because we were closed for hot weather between 10.30am and 5.30pm, it meant that many of the samples that are reported today are samples from two days ago, not from yesterday," he said.

"It is likely to be lumpy for the next day or so."

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Omicron peak to be reached as soon as tomorrow

Modelling has revealed the peak of the Omicron variant in the state is yet to come.

"We're now told from the model that we saw today at the COVID-Ready Committee that the peak in South Australia is going to be between the 15th and the 25th of this month," Mr Marshall said.

"The range in terms of that peak is going to be between 6000 and 10,000 cases per day."

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The peak will also see a requirement for 370 hospital beds and 50 ICU beds.

It was originally anticipated the state would reach between 30,000 and 40,000 cases per day by the third and fourth week of January.

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Staggered return to school

Mr Marshall has announced there will be a staggered return to school for term one this year.

Schools will open from January 31 and classes will start from February 2.

"They will begin online for some students and face-to-face for others," he said.

Preschool, Reception, Year One, Year Seven, Year Eight, and Year 12 will return to face-to-face learning from February 2 and the remainder of the year groups will begin classes online.

From February 14, the remainder of the year groups will return to face-to-face learning.

"I don't like doing this. I would much prefer to have every single student back on the 31st of January," Mr Marshall said.