By RNZ A Northland Māori health provider is going to vaccinate anyone who wants to be protected against Covid-19, even if they don’t meet the criteria.Northland District Health Board is the worst performing DHB for the Covid-19…

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A senior public servant and former top police officer is recovering in hospital with serious injuries after he was involved in a motorcycle accident yesterday. Ministry of Social Development chief executive Debbie Power confirmed…

The average Australian property buyer would paid almost $150,000 less if they were in a position to buy five years ago, in just another example of the incredible rise in prices this year.

CoreLogic data analysis from five years ago reveals startling increases in the median values of properties in Australia's capital cities, where the middle-priced home has grown in some cities by more than $200,000.

In March 2016 the median value – which includes both apartments and free-standing homes – of an Aussie capital city property was $550,000.

READ MORE: House prices record steepest increase in almost 18 years

Fast forward five years and that same hypothetical property is worth $693,936 – an increase of $143,936 or a jump of 26.17 per cent.

The rise in property prices has been so sudden it has largely outpaced the cost of Lender's Mortgage Insurance (or LMI), which applies on deposits of less than 20 per cent.

The amount of LMI a buyer pays on a loan varies on the size of the loan, how much deposit you have, what the property is worth and a whole host of other factors.

But of course, a higher deposit means paying off a smaller mortgage in the long run.

READ MORE: Bondi Beach property sells for $1 million over reserve

According to Genworth's LMI calculator, if a first-home buyer had a 5 per cent deposit on a $550,000 home, they would be facing an upfront LMI premium of more than $23,000 on a 36-to-40-year loan.

Of course this hypothetical does not factor in today's historically low interest rates – or average wages in 2016 – it simply weighs up median prices now compared to five years ago.

When broken down by capital city, a more stark contrast can be seen where buyers are desperate to enter the market.

READ MORE: Average first home buyer deposit cracks $100,000

In 2016, the median value of a property in Hobart was the cheapest in the country at $341,500. Today, that median has slid up to an eye-watering $548,686 – a rise of just over 60 per cent.

In Australia's most expensive market in Sydney, the median price of all properties was $730,000. Today that figure closes in on the million-dollar-mark at $928,028.

According to Domain's Senior Research Analyst Dr Nicola Powell – who today released independent figures showing an equally stratospheric price rise – the hike in prices comes amid a perfect storm for buyers and sellers.

"Record low interest rates, improved household savings, low listing volumes, post-lockdown lifestyle changes, consumer sentiment roaring to an 11-year high, returning cashed-up expats and government incentives have fuelled demand for housing and a strong market performance," Dr Powell said.

"It is the first time in a year that price growth across the combined capital cities has outperformed regional areas."

READ MORE: What you need to earn to afford a mortgage in Sydney

Ms Powell said in Sydney, specifically, first-home buyers are watching prices outpace their ability to earn more income at work.

"For homeowners, this is the fastest rate of capital growth on record. Although prices are accelerating faster at the upper end followed by the mid-point of the market, the cost of upsizing remains a hurdle," Dr Powell said.

"For first-home buyers, low mortgage rates have improved the affordability of repayments, but saving for a deposit is a challenge due to rapidly rising prices, low wages growth and low interest on savings."

PROPERTY PRICES FIVE YEARS AGO

CoreLogic March Home Value Index 2016

City:	Median Dwelling Value:
Sydney	$730,000
Melbourne	$560,000
Brisbane	$470,000
Adelaide	$415,000
Perth	$495,000
Hobart	$341,500
Darwin	$505,000
Canberra	$540,000
Combined Capitals	$550,000

PROPERTY PRICES NOW

CoreLogic March Home Value Index 2021

City:	Median Dwelling Value:
Sydney	$928,028
Melbourne	$736,620
Brisbane	$548,260
Adelaide	$486,555
Perth	$505,850
Hobart	$548,686
Darwin	$451,408
Canberra	$727,032
Combined Capitals	$693,936

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Thousands of fish have been found dead along Auckland’s Beachlands coastline, worrying locals as a strong stench lingers.Mandy Reeves was going for a walk on Monday when she noticed a smell near the Pine Harbour marina.But it…

Joe Biden has presented one of the boldest and most expansive progressive agendas in history in his address to Congress.

While technically not a State of the Union address, his speech fulfilled much of the same function.

State of the Union addresses are typically done before a chamber packed with representatives, senators, Supreme Court justices, senior military personnel and invited guests.

READ MORE: Federal investigators execute warrant at Rudy Giuliani's NYC home

But today a much smaller and socially distanced group was on hand to hear his speech.

A masked Mr Biden entered the chamber and bumped fists and elbows with members of Congress.

The address marks the first time a president will speak in Congress flanked by two women.

"Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President," he began his address.

"No president has ever said those words, and it is about time."

Big spender

Mr Biden called for another four years of education to be paid for by the government – two years of preschool and two years of community college.

He referenced something his wife Jill – a community college professor – has said to him.

"If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times. 'Joe, every country that outeducates us is going to outcompete us'."

Mr Biden referenced the death of his son Beau in calling for more funding for cancer research.

READ MORE: Joe Biden touts nation's 'stunning progress'

"Let's end cancer as we know it. It's within our power to do it," he said.

He pushed for more investment in manufacturing, research and development, and infrastructure.

"There are good guys and women on Wall Street, but they didn't build this country," he said.

"The middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class."

His call to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour drew a standing ovation from the crowd.

Currently, the federal minimum wage in America is about half that.

"No-one working 40 hours a week should live below the poverty line," Mr Biden said.

He called for building and updating ports, airports, bridges, roads and highways, as well as replacing lead pipes in drinking water infrastructure.

He also called for American workers to have access to 12 weeks of paid family and health leave.

Currently, America is the only industrialised country with no guarantee of maternity leave.

He also called for cutting the costs of prescription drugs, which are much more expensive in America than in the rest of the world.

And he declared his policy proposals should be paid for by raising taxes on America's wealthiest.

"It's time for corporate America and the wealthiest one percent to begin paying their fair share," Mr Biden said.

"I think you should be able to become a millionaire or billionaire, but pay your fair share."

He also called for an end to America's "exhausting war on immigration".

Social justice reform

Mr Biden demanded more be done about gun violence in America, specifically closing the "boyfriend loophole" allowing abusive partners to access weapons.

"It's estimated that 50 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month in America. Let's pass it, and save some lives," he said.

"Gun violence has become an epidemic in America."

He pledged support to the transgender community.

"For all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people, I want you to know your president has your back," he said.

He pushed for Congress to pass a bill for police reform in the wake of George Floyd murder trial.

"The vast majority of men and women in America wearing a badge serve our communities honourably," Mr Biden said.

"The country supports this reform, and Congress should act.

"We have a tremendous opportunity to bend the arc of the moral universe towards justice."

Dose of hope

Mr Biden touted his achievements in his first 100 days in the White House in his first address to Congress as President.

"After just 100 days, I can report to the nation that America is on the move again," he said.

"After I promised we would get 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots into people's arms in 100 days, we will have provided over 220 million COVID-19 shots in those 100 days."

Every American over the age of 16 is now eligible to be vaccinated.

"Go and get vaccinated, America," he said.

"They are available."

He noted that more than half of American adults have received at least one COVID shot.

He referenced a conversation he had with a nurse at a vaccination centre in Arizona.

"I asked the nurse – I said, 'What is it like?'" Mr Biden said.

"She looked at me and she said, 'It is like every shot is giving a dose of hope'."

READ MORE: 'We're gonna do this': Biden closes global summit on climate

A daughter accused of killing her mother using animal euthanasia drugs has been found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.

Barbara Eckersley sat shaking in the Goulburn House courtroom, clutching a tissue in one hand and her lawyers hand with the other as the jury returned the verdict.

Her mother Dr Mary White, an acclaimed botanist, was found dead her room at a Bundanoon aged care facility in the New South Wales Southern Highlands in August 2018.

READ MORE: Wildlife volunteer allegedly used drug for euthanising animals on sickly mother

An autopsy found she had lethal levels of so-called "green dream" veterinary drugs or barbiturates in her system.

Ms Eckersley told the trial she tipped the drugs into her 92-year-old mother's soup and there was a quick reaction but denied intending to kill her mother.

Ms Eckersley pleaded not guilty to murder saying she was "only intending to make her comfortable" while her mother was in her care.

Her lawyer Mr Kieran Ginger said he intended to argue for a "non-custodial sentence", but admitted "there will be a bit of argument about that".

Ms Eckersley was released on bail.

Sydney resident Jarrah Brailey was enjoying an afternoon walk on Wategos Beach in Byron Bay when she spotted a giant octopus slide across the sand.

"It absolutely was crazy, I couldn't believe it," Ms Brailey told nine.com.au.

"It was really cool, it was changing colour depending on whether it was under water, or on the sand or the rocks to camouflage itself."

READ MORE: Flock of corellas take over suburban street on NSW South Coast

She estimated each tentacle to be up to 30 centimetres long.

"It was absolutely massive."

Despite never having seen an octopus of that size, Ms Brailey said she didn't fully comprehend how rare the sighting was until her social media was flooded with comments from friends overseas.

"I didn't really think anything of it until I started getting all these messages about it, especially from my friends in New Zealand and the US," she said.

"This is just another day on the Australian beach."

Several species of octopus are found throughout NSW waters, from the shallow intertidal rock ledges to the deep offshore areas.

Wategos Beach is a sanctuary zone in Cape Byron Marine Park, meaning all animals and plants (including octopus) are protected in these waters.

Octopus are also protected in the habitat protection zones of Cape Byron Marine Park.

China has warned Australia that it needs to throw off its "cold war mentality" after Federal Government figures warned about the risk of conflict in the Asia Pacific.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has branded Australia's politicians the "real troublemakers" and said Canberra's highly publicised warnings about China were "unethical".

He said Australia had benefitted from its relationship with China for decades but is now marked by growing tensions.

READ MORE: Multi-million expansion of Australian military bases not a signal to China, Morrison says

"As a country that has long benefited from cooperation with China, it is unethical for Australia to hype a 'China threat' theory, nor is the allegation consistent with facts," Mr Zhao said yesterday.

"It will end up hurting itself."

Mr Zhao said "irresponsible" comments by some Australian figures were hurting Canberra-Beijing relations.

"We urge certain individuals in Australia to shake off the Cold War mentality, stop making irresponsible remarks and act in ways that are conducive to regional peace and stability rather than the opposite."

His comments came after one of the Federal Government's top national security officials yesterday warned the "drums of war" are beating.

Home Affairs Department Secretary Mike Pezzullo said Australia must work to reduce the risk of war "but not at the cost of our precious liberty".

READ MORE: 'Australia can't rely on US to face China threat': Drum of war comments consistent with nation's thinking

In a speech Mr Pezzullo, warned that Australia must be prepared "to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight".

And earlier this week, Defence Minister Peter Dutton warned that China was militarising ports in the region.

But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Today the Federal Government's priority was maintaining peace in the Asia Pacific.

"Australia is a great beneficiary of a peaceful Indo-Pacific. That is our key priority to ensure peace in our region."

But Mr Frydenberg also said a strong and capable Australian Defence Force was necessary.

READ MORE: 'China is militarising ports across our region': Dutton's stern warning for Australia

He said Prime Minister Scott Morrison's announcement yesterday about major upgrades to military training bases in Northern Australia demonstrated the government's resolve.

'We always need to have a capable and well-resourced defence force.

"Under previous governments, the funding for the Defence Force went down to the lowest level since 1938 – 1.65 per cent of GDP – and now we are above 2 per cent."

A relieved Christchurch cricket club administrator has spoken for the first time about the desperate effort made by teammates and paramedics to save the life of one of his players.Old Boys Collegians’ senior team captain David Wakefield…