Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day. Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day. The Editor doesn’t moderate this blog, 3 volunteers do, they are very lenient to provide you a free speech space but if it’s just deranged abuse or putting words in bloggers mouths to have a pointless argument, we don’t bother publishing.

A Christchurch mum says her 11-year-old son was given laxative-laced lolly cake by “boys on electric scooters with ski masks on” while out trick-or-treating for the first time on Halloween. “It was the first time that I’ve actually let them go trick or treating,” the mum said. “So he really panicked that it was the anaphylaxis again.”Increasing numbers of Kiwi kids have been going trick-or-treating on Halloween. I’d actually spoken to my mum about it and said maybe they could have put laxatives or something,” the mum said. “[The culprits] are thinking it’s just a laugh but [the other kids] actually could get really sick.

A couple of days ago, K Gurunathan – described as a former mayor of Kapiti – had an article in Stuff under the heading “ACT’s Treaty referendum: a bad idea, and even worse timing”. In the article, he noted that former Prime Minister John Key had ruled out the idea

A grainy image captures a woman, dragging a yellow kayak and with a dog at her side, headed into the water at a Wellington beach . For reasons that remain unknown, Michaela Leger allegedly stole the single-seater kayak from a property near Raumati Beach on October 21. READ MORE:  Mushroom cook Erin Patterson arrested in Victoria over fatal lunchMichaela Leger has not been seen since she entered the Kāpiti Coast water in this kayak over a week ago. The dog did not enter the kayak with Leger and Kāpiti Coast District Council confirmed it was in the care of the pound. Police confirmed they found a kayak paddle in the area a few days later, but they couldn't say whether it was the one Leger was seen carrying.

At its latest review, the US Fed has delivered the result markets expected, and one well signaled by the recent Fed speakers - a hawkish hold. But the widely-watched local ISM factory PMI told a different story, contracting slightly, and slightly faster in October than September. The NZ Government 10 year bond rate is -5 bps lower at 5.59%. Wall Street is in its Wednesday trading with the S&P500 up +0.5% and taking the Fed review in its stride. The bitcoin price starts today at US$34,464 and another tiny -US$31 or -0.1% lower from this time yesterday.

The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 per cent in the year to September 30, from 3.6 per cent previously. Photo / 123RFThe unemployment rate rose, the employment rate fell and the rate of wage growth eased in Stats NZ’s latest Household Labour Force survey. The official unemployment rate rose to 3.9 per cent in the year to September 30, from 3.6 per cent previously. The employment rate fell to 69.1 per cent from a high of 69.8 per cent last quarter. “That still signals strong participation in the labour market, but quite a significant easing.

StuffPamela Anderson caused a stir by arriving at Paris Fashion Week without ... what?

The shopkeeper victims of a brutal Auckland dairy attack have spoken out for the first time, recounting the ordeal where one suffered 15 stab wounds to the chest, neck and face. Daxa Patel, 54, told the Herald the attack at New Windsor Dairy on 5 October, which left her moderately injured and her husband, Suresh Patel, 64, hospitalised and needing brain surgery, was still fresh in her mind. The deepest cut was to Suresh Patel's left cheek, which "pretty much fell apart", and his right eyelid was swollen shut, his son said. Customers inside the dairy intervened and stopped the assault, a move police Detective Inspector Glen Baldwin said may have saved Suresh Patel's life. Relieving Auckland City district commander Acting Superintendent Sunny Patel said officers found Lam unresponsive in a cell at about 10.56am on 6 October - a day after the dairy incident.

Creative agency Crave Global has partnered with The PoolHouse, one of New Zealand’s leading fibreglass pool companies, to lead the business on a journey to define its new brand strategy and redesign, website development, social media, along with its new brand tagline – Our pool. Crave Global will roll out the campaign this week, launching across TV on demand, out of home billboards, PR and digital. The PoolHouse aims to help new and old customers with anything that will ensure the ultimate result – a happy customer making memories, poolside. “Crave Global got to the heart of The PoolHouse with the new brand and campaign. Credits:Crave GlobalExecutive Creative Director – Hadleigh AverillManaging Director / Partner – Daniel HopkirkSenior Account Director – Nicola BraceyStrategist – Lucinda SherborneMedia Director – Andrew ReinholdsGeneral Manger – Luke FarmerSenior Creative – Scott KellyCreative – Ryan HobbsDesign Director – Solene ConstantSenior Designer – Angelo WellsDesigner – Nicole MeyerPhotographer – Fraser ClementsProducer – Hamish Mortland

Lloyd Thomason, formerly of TRA, is rejoining the agency world as a Senior Strategist with FCB Aotearoa. Thomason returns to the advertising industry after two years as a researcher and strategist with leading market research company, TRA. It’s not Thomason’s first gig at Wellington Street, having worked at FCB earlier in this career. Thomason says: “FCB make stuff that everyday New Zealanders like and talk about – stuff that changes behaviour. Attracting Lloyd back to the industry is a big win for our culture, and a huge boost to the value we provide our clients.”

Based on your current location, we selected the Asia edition of FreshPlaza.com for youYou are currently in the Asia edition of FreshPlaza.comPlease click one of the other regions below to switch to another edition.

An 80-year-old man has admitted killing his 78-year-old wife in a retirement village in Mount Maunganui. John Alfred Salter appeared at the Tauranga High Court on Wednesday where he entered a guilty plea to murdering his wife Jean, his lawyer Tony Rickard-Simms confirmed to Stuff. Police were called to Bayswater retirement village at 6.55pm where they found the body of Jean Salter on October 8. Metlifecare, which own the Bayswater village, was helping police with its investigation. We are providing support to our other residents and staff who knew them and have engaged Victim Support to assist,” says a Metlifecare spokesperson said.

Got a good quiz question? Send your questions to quiz@stuff.co.nzAnd if you’re looking for other quiz challenges, you can find the rest of our quizzes here!

The Great NZ Road Trip visits the wonders of the Deep SouthShayne Currie continues his journey going from Invercargill to Queenstown, stops off in the town of Athol and showcases the wonders he has found in the Deep South. Video / Shayne Currie

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “The Great NZ Road Trip takes on Danseys Pass | nzherald.co.nz” – below is their description. Shayne Currie continues his journey, driving through the challenging Danseys Pass on the way to Timaru. Video / Shayne CurrieSubscribe and be notified of breaking news: https://goo.gl/LP45jXCheck out our playlists: https://goo.gl/Swd249Like NZ Herald on Facebook: https://goo.gl/tUC4oqFollow NZ Herald on Instagram: https://goo.gl/oLicXeFollow NZ Herald on Twitter: https://goo.gl/Wi6mbvnzherald.co.nz YouTube Channel