Regardless of when New Zealand’s fast bowling stocks are replenished, Duffy now stands tall as an undroppable member of the Black Caps across all three formats. The West Indies, meanwhile, made it clear early on that victory was not in their thinking and instead opted to try to bat out the final day. The West Indies languish last on the ladder with four points from eight completed tests to begin the new cycle. The Black Caps celebrate the wicket of Kavem Hodge on day five of the third test against the West Indies. The Black Caps can now enjoy Christmas and the New Year off before travelling to India for three ODIs and five T20s in the second week of January.

For… pic.twitter.com/Jd3YLuLPxM — MetService NZ (@MetService) December 21, 2025MetService reported the front will stall, with rain expected to be heaviest west of Taupō. A strong wind watch was due to come into effect for Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay from 6am. Heavy rain watches have also been issued for the Tararua Range from 2am tomorrow, and the coastal hills and ranges of the Buller and Grey districts between Karamea and Greymouth from 9pm. “Weather on the west coast of the South Island will be more board games than barbecuing as an active front drags in some more rain,” Pawley said. Winds are also expected to pick up about Canterbury High Country.”He said the best Christmas weather is expected to be found on the east coast.

PHOTO: RNZA couple who regretted their decision to fix their home loan for five years in 2023 have been unsuccessful in their complaint against their bank. It said the couple fixed their home loan for one year in 2021 and 2022. The couple said the bank had misled and pressured them into refixing the loan for five years. "I did have a case last month where a client had fixed his loan in for five years with his bank directly at 6.39%. "Once we had his break fees on his mortgage, we ran figures through our break cost benefit calculator.

Police were called to a beach north of Napier on Monday. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Police were called to a beach north of Napier on Monday. Photo / NZMEPolice are at the scene of a sudden death on a stretch of coastline north of Napier. They were called to the beach between Hawke’s Bay Airport and Bay View about 2.30pm on Monday.

Cheese dumped as a landfill has been resold in Waikato. The cheese was supposedly taken from Putāruru Landfill and found for sale in the Waikato town on Sunday. “Selling dumped cheese is illegal and a food safety risk to public health. New Zealand Food Safety is investigating,” said Arbuckle. Over the Moon registered farmers’ marketsHamilton Farmers’ Market at ClaudelandsWedge Mobile Fromagerie – Hokowhitu Farmers’ Market (first and third Sunday of month)Wedge Mobile Fromagerie – Feilding Farmers’ Market (every Friday)Over the Moon registered Waikato retail stockists

Emergency services attend the crash that has left State Highway 1 closed north of Hampden today. Photo: Nic DuffTwo people were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries after a van rolled off the road near Oamaru this morning. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they were notified of the single-vehicle crash in Herbert-Hampden Rd, Hampden, at 9am. Two patients were assessed at the scene and transported to hospital by helicopter in a moderate condition, the spokesperson said. The van appeared to have rolled off the road and one of its two occupants had been trapped inside.

A knife-wielding Dunedin man allegedly lashed out at police with his teeth leaving one officer in hospital with bite wounds. CCTV footage revealed the man had driven to the business in an allegedly stolen vehicle, Snr Sgt Bond said. The man was handcuffed and restrained, but while being searched began "kicking and pulling against police", Snr Sgt Bond said. The man allegedly tried to bite a fourth officer while being transferred to the police vehicle. There had been previous interactions and court proceedings between the 30-year-old man and the Bridgman St business, Snr Sgt Bond said.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Photo: RNZFinance Minister Nicola Willis will not be standing for an electorate seat at the next election. At the last election, Willis campaigned for the Wellington electorate of Ōhāriu, which was narrowly won by Labour's Greg O'Connor with 17,565 votes to Willis' 16,305. The electorate will next year be split into the new seats of Kenepuru and Kāpiti, which replace Mana and Ōtaki. Willis said the economy was growing again and inflation had come down as a result of the government's plan.

By Felix Walton of RNZSexual abuse support services facing cuts in the new year have been given an extra six months, but are being told not to expect any more than that. The government planned to redirect $1.7 million from various contracts with sexual abuse services from January. That included a long-running contract with HELP Auckland, worth about $380,000 a year, to provide long-term counselling for survivors of sexual abuse that weren't eligible for ACC coverage. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-oldsAsian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Victim Support 0800 842 846.

Max Chu plays a shot for the Volts against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve during last year's Super Smash. Photo: Getty ImagesOtago cricket is ditching the "Otago" from its Super Smash team names. Both the Volts (men) and the Sparks (women) will now compete in T20 cricket without the provincial prefix. The Otago Cricket Association said the shift was to ‘‘better represent the full breadth of its regional footprint, including the Southland community, and to strengthen alignment across its domestic and community pathways’’. “Establishing a consistent brand presence across all communities helps ensure the Volts and Sparks become familiar and enduring symbols within schools, clubs, and regional events.

Photo: Getty ImagesA young man caught smoking cannabis in Dunedin’s Octagon was arrested after allegedly walking away from officers and continuing to smoke it, police sayPolice observed the 21-year-old man smoking cannabis in the Octagon at 11.55pm on Saturday, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said. "When we’ve approached him, he refused to dispose of it and walked away whilst continuing to smoke it." The man was arrested, and when searched was found with utensils for smoking cannabis. The man was bailed to appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow, charged with consuming and possession of cannabis, and resisting arrest. Behind the wheel was a 31-year-old woman who was a suspended driver, so she was arrested for that, Snr Sgt Bond said.

A fire has broken out in the basement of a six-level building in Auckland's CBD. Firefighters battle blaze in basement of six-storey Dilworth Building in downtown AucklandA fire has broken out in the basement of a six-level building in Auckland's CBD. Photo / Samuel SherryFirefighters battled a blaze in the basement of a heritage-listed six-level building in Auckland’s CBD this morning. A Fire and Emergency shift manager said they were called at around 10.15am after reports that a fire had broken out. The footpath surrounding the Dilworth Building, at the bottom of Queen St, was cordoned off while firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

The Post reports:Indeed, she says in her sworn affidavit that Tamihere had been chairing the weekly caucus meetings of MPs in Parliament since September. To have the party president chair caucus instead of the leader or a co-leader is unprecedented. This makes it very clear that despite not being an MP, John Tamihere is both the president and leader of Te Pati Maori. If there is a Labour/Green/TPM Government, it will be John Tamihere deciding what TPM does, and how they do it. Tamihere is the President and Leader.

Photo: ODT filesA Dunedin man was caught driving more than four times over the legal alcohol limit after crashing his work vehicle into both a parked car and a power pole, police say. A 37-year-old man had crashed his work vehicle into a parked car. The man recorded a breath alcohol level of 1414mcg — more than four times the legal limit for adults of 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. He recorded a breath alcohol level of 972mcg, so had his licence suspended and would appear in the Dunedin District Court at a later date. At 7.45pm, a 25-year-old man recorded a breath alcohol level of 390mcg.

Emergency services attend the crash that has left State Highway 1 closed north of Hampden today. Photo: Nic DuffTwo people were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries after a van rolled off the road near Oamaru this morning. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they were notified of the single-vehicle crash in Herbert-Hampden Rd, Hampden, at 9am. Two patients were assessed at the scene, both transported to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter in a moderate condition, the spokesperson said. The van appeared to have rolled off the road and one of its two occupants was trapped inside.