There are fundamental flaws in the multi-billion dollar Auckland Transport Alignment Project 2021-31 package’s emissions ambitions, and some of the claims made for it don’t add up, say climate and transports groups.Urbanist advocacy…

It could have been mistaken for a graduation ceremony. Proud parents, welcome hugs, long embraces. Small groups standing around chatting, laughing. Mewling infants hoisted onto shoulders. But take a closer look. The bursts of…

Locked 3-apiece, Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa will be looking to the weather gods – and the possibility of strengthening winds – as a key factor in the coming days.The America’s Cup rivals return to the Hauraki Gulf today for…

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

As the capital celebrates Wellington’s Pride Festival this month, members of the rainbow community say there are “still fights to fight”. Gender diverse bathrooms are on the council’s agenda, as gender diverse Wellingtonians call…

A 57-year-old woman has managed to quite literally walk away from an explosion in a Sydney marina.

Authorities were called to Newport Anchorage Marina just before 8pm last night, responding to calls of a boat explosion, with the blast big enough to start sinking the vessel.

Three NSW Ambulance crews, police, water police and two fire trucks attended along with the hazardous materials unit, with concerns for a potential fuel spill following the blast.

The woman is believed to have been by herself on the boat and lying down at the time of the incident.

She managed to walk off the boat on her own but suffered hearing loss due to the explosion and was treated by paramedics for lower leg wounds believed to be from shrapnel, which is said to have spread over 35 metres.

"The patient was assisted by a bystander to the marina after the horrific explosion," Inspector Darren Hoschke, NSW Ambulance said.

"Vision was poor around the marina so paramedics did a terrific job treating the patient in the ambulance."

"The explosion caused enough damage to start to sink the boat, it was relieving to see the patient walk away from the scene."

The 57-year-old was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital and is in a stable condition.

A man is in hospital and his friend bruised and battered after a night out in Sydney's west ended in violence.

The pair claim they were attacked by strangers with a knife in Granville before the offenders fled the scene.

Scott Hardman, 33, is in hospital with head wounds after the pair were allegedly attacked.

The friends had been drinking at The Royal Hotel and say when they went to leave, two men outside became aggressive before launching at them with a knife.

"Out of no where they walk up and they go let's fight…pulled out a weapon," victim Chris Wilson told 9News.

Mr Wilson claims his friend was stabbed twice in the head and bleeding a lot when the alleged offenders ran off.

Late yesterday afternoon, one 26-year-old man was arrested while his alleged accomplice remains on the run.

The incident comes as NSW Police crackdown on knife related crime across Sydney.

A two day operation resulting in 195 people being charged and 36 knives seized.

A quick-thinking tradie has dragged a 30-year-old man from the drivers seat of a ute after he attempted to drive off.

In the middle of the day on busy Montague road, West End in Brisbane, a man strolls up to a tradie's ute and jumps straight into the driver's seat.

But he barely made it a metre before a worker stopped him in his tracks, springing into action the road worked jumped the barrier, ran across the road, ripped open the door and dragged the 30-year-old from the driver's seat.

Road workers attempted to detain the man at the scene but police say he became violent and ran off.

He was arrested a short time later and has now been charged with unlawful use of a motorvehicle and one count of public nuisance.

The man was granted bail in the Brisbane magistrates court.

A serving British police officer accused of the kidnap and murder of a woman in London appeared in court for the first time Saturday.

Wayne Couzens, 48, is charged with kidnapping and killing 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who went missing while walking home from a friend's apartment in south London on the evening of March 3.

The case has sparked a national outcry, and the Metropolitan Police has expressed anger and shock that one of its own was arrested for the crime.

READ MORE: Cop charged over missing London woman reported to police days prior

The force said Couzens joined its ranks in 2018, and most recently served in the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, an armed unit responsible for guarding London embassies and Parliament.

Couzens, who wore a grey tracksuit, stood as the charges were read to him during Saturday's brief hearing. He was remanded in custody to appear at London's Central Criminal Court on Tuesday.

Everard's body was found hidden in an area of woodland in Kent, southeast of London, on Wednesday.

In the wake of her disappearance and killing, many women have taken to social media to share their own experiences of being threatened or attacked while walking outside.

Some had planned to organise a vigil in Everard's memory on Saturday, but a High Court judge said such a gathering would be unlawful due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Metropolitan Police stressed Saturday it "shared the nation's outrage at this crime" and understood the organisers' frustrations that the gathering had to be cancelled, but said it was important to remain vigilant against the threat of COVID-19.

Mark McGowan has been returned as WA Premier for another four years after an unprecedented landslide victory for Labor and an historic crushing wipeout defeat for the Liberal party.

As of 9pm AWST last night (midnight AEDT) the ALP had 50 seats, with the Liberal party on just two and the Nationals three, with four in doubt. Thirty seats are needed for victory and Labor reached that target just over two hours after polls had closed.

Labor won 44 seats on first preference votes. It is the biggest win for a state party in Australian political history.

WA Election: How an historic night played out

The result looks set to leave the National party as opposition in the lower house and Mia Davies leader of the opposition. The extent of the defeat would see the Liberals left without party status which means it would not qualify for important Parliamentary resources.

WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup became the first major party leader in the state to lose his seat in 88 years to cap off a disastrous night for the opposition. He announced he would no longer seek office for the Liberal party in his concession speech – which was delayed by a faulty microphone, a moment which summed up what has been a disastrous campaign.

Nine political editor Chris Uhlmann called the defeat an 'extinction level event' for the state Liberal party. All eyes will now be on the ramifications the result will have at a Federal level.

There is also likely to be a majority for the ALP in the upper house too.

'A mandate to deliver'

Mr McGowan said he would lead a government for all West Australians.

""This is a humbling experience," he said in his victory speech.

"To have the support and faith of so many West Australians in one of the most important state elections is a great honour," Mr McGowan said.

"We've been through a lot together over the course of the last year.

"The pandemic has been a difficult time for every West Australian. I've been so fortunate to have West Australians helping and supporting us every step of the way as we dealt with the crisis and made the difficult decisions that needed to be made."

He also talked of implementing "positive plans for the future", including "bringing back manufacturing, keeping TAFE and training affordable for West Australians".

"Today is an endorsement of perseverence, hard work, optimism and never giving in.

"The magnitude of what happened today is not lost on me. With it comes great responsibility. We will continue to deliver stable, competent, responsible and caring government for all West Australians.

"We've been given a mandate to deliver and that's what we intend to do. We are a government for all West Australians. Regions and the city, young and old, men and women, workers, small business owners, farmers, trades people.

"We will always govern for all West Australians. Tomorrow, we get right back to work, continuing to build a Western Australia that is safe, fair and strong."