By RNZ The Auckland City Rail Link’s tunnel boring machine has today broken through into the Karangahape Station construction site, after digging through 860 metres of ground from Mt Eden.The machine, named Dame Whina Cooper,…

New York real estate heir Robert Durst, who days ago was sentenced in a two-decade-old murder case, has been hospitalised after contracting COVID-19, his lawyer said.

Defence attorney Dick DeGuerin said he was notified Durst was admitted after testing positive for the coronavirus. Mr DeGuerin told multiple media outlets Durst is on a ventilator. Additional details on his condition were not immediately made available.

The Los Angeles Superior Court said in a statement Saturday the court was notified someone present for the sentencing hearing for Durst on Thursday had tested positive for COVID-19.

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"As a result, the Court will follow CDC and LA County Department of Public Health guidelines for assessing close contacts of the infected individual," the statement read.

No additional COVID-19 cases have been reported.

Durst, 78, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without a chance of parole for the murder of his best friend more than two decades ago.

Durst, who has numerous medical issues, sat in a wheelchair with a catatonic stare during much of the sentencing hearing.

"He was very, very sick in the courtroom," Mr DeGuerin said Saturday.

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He was convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court last month of first-degree murder for shooting Susan Berman point-blank in the back of the head at her home in December 2000.

The killing had been a mystery that haunted family and friends for 15 years before Durst was arrested in 2015 following his unwise decision to participate in a documentary that unearthed new evidence and caught him in a stunning confession.

Mr DeGuerin said Thursday that Durst will appeal.

One person has been critically injured following a shooting this afternoon involving a group of people at a West Auckland property.Police were notified around 3.20pm of reports of a physical altercation between a group of people…

A Northland man claims his daughter and her partner’s plans to relocate from Australia is in limbo because their immigration application is “sitting unopened in the mail tray” at Immigration NZ’s Auckland’s office.INZ’s Auckland…

The $42 million Lotto Powerball jackpot for Wednesday will be New Zealand’s second-largest prize ever won, if struck. Lotto New Zealand says the largest prize won in the country was a $44 million Powerball prize won by a young couple…

Three new locations of interest across Auckland were visited by a person with Covid-19 on Saturday. As well as new locations of interest, the Ministry of Health has released a number of new times for existing locations of interest,…

Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.

There are 51 new cases of Covid-19 in the community today – 47 in Auckland and four in the Waikato.As of 9am, 28 of the cases had been linked – 18 of those were household contacts, the Ministry of Health said in its 1pm update….

Former NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay has announced she is quitting politics nearly five months after resigning as opposition leader.

"The lockdown has given me time to reflect and consider my future," the member for Strathfield said in a statement.

"Over the last 15 years, I have witnessed the best and worst in NSW politics.

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"I have always been true to myself and my principles and have stood up for what is right, regardless of the consequences.

"I value integrity in public life – it's something I have demonstrated in my role each and every day. I hope that is a legacy I leave our party and NSW politics," Ms McKay said.

Ms McKay stepped down as Labor leader back in May after Labor suffered a crushing defeat at the crucial Upper Hunter by-election.

Her resignation from parliament will spark a fifth by-election in NSW.

Last week Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons announced she was resigning from state politics to contest Craig Kelly for the federal seat of Hughes.

Then there will be one in Willoughby after former premier Gladys Berejiklian stepped down amid an ICAC investigation, and another in Monaro after deputy premier John Barilaro quit politics.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance also announced he would resign as Member for Bega and contest Liberal pre-election for his local federal seat of Gilmore.

There has been a slight increase in new COVID-19 infections just two days after the ACT exited lockdown.

The territory recorded 33 new cases, compared to 20 yesterday, and 35 the day before. Health officials previously warned the figures would "jump around".

There were 1366 negative tests, and no one in the ACT died with the virus.

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Lockdown ended in the territory at 12am on Friday, with people allowed to visit friends and family again.

Recreational sport was allowed to begin again, and licensed venues opened to vaccinated patrons.

Funerals and weddings can also resume with some caps and restrictions in place.