Warning: This story details domestic violenceA man subjected his partner to almost two years of violence in their Alexandra and Christchurch homes. Judge Elkin outlined how the abuse had started three months into the pair’s relationship and spanned 20 months. Judge Elkin said Cudby would be subject to a first strike under the new Three Strikes law. "If you commit a further serious offence, the consequences will be serious," Judge Elkin told him. • Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7)• Ministry of Justice: For information on family violence• Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services• White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women.

On the Government’s plan to ban social media for under-16s, Luxon said he was looking very closely at what Australia had been doing. He acknowledged their approach wasn’t perfect but “you’ve got to die trying” - protecting 70% of under-16s from the harms of social media was better than protecting none. Luxon’s much-touted India free trade agreement is also facing scrutiny as NZ First continues to oppose the deal. Plans are also being laid for India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit New Zealand mid-year, just months before the NZ elections. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Photo: Getty ImagesZoi Sadowski-Synnott has made an imposing start to her Winter Olympic campaign, leading after the first qualifying run in the women's Snowboard Big Air. Sadowski-Synnott is competing in her third Olympics and is chasing her first Big Air gold. A year later, she competed at the Pyeongchang Olympics, claiming a bronze medal in the Big Air. In Beijing 2022, she made history as the first Kiwi to ever win a Winter Olympic gold medal when she won the snowboard slopestyle title. She followed that up just days later with a silver medal in the Big Air.

Jorja Miller attempts to break free on a run for the Black Ferns Sevens against Australia in the final of last night's tournament in Perth. Photo: Getty ImagesThe Black Ferns Sevens have overwhelmed defending champions Australia in Perth, scoring five tries in the final to win 29-7 and extend their lead in the world series. The two sides have met in all four finals this season, with the Black Ferns Sevens prevailing in the opening round in Dubai, before Australia struck back in Cape Town. Teneti scored tries either side of halftime to give the Black Ferns Sevens control, using her power for the first and her speed for the second, racing 75m to score. New Zealand remain third in the standings while Fiji held on to their top spot, despite a 21-19 loss to second-placed South Africa in the Perth final.

By Sam Sherwood of RNZA mental health patient who stabbed a stranger while on escorted leave had a history of violence and had previously stabbed two relatives. He's now been made a special patient which means he is detained in hospital. The lawyer said his position was to neither consent nor oppose the making of a special patient order. In September 2021 Owen stabbed a relative, the following year he stabbed another relative, Judge Mika said. The threshold for detention as a special patient is high, but in my view, in this case, that threshold has been met."

Photo: File imageChristchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson (above) earned the highest salary of the council companies at $937,060. Lyttelton Port Company chief Graeme Sumner earned $881,237, followed by Orion Group chief Nigel Barbour on $880,000, while Enable chief Johnathan Eele earned $862,000. Although chief executive salaries are paid from the company budgets, it has an indirect impact on the city council budget. Executive and director pay, and all other company costs, lower the dividend the companies pay to the city council each year. Mauger and Henstock said they supported MacDonald’s view, underpinning the alignments within the city council.

Tim Seifert plays a shot during his man of the match performance for New Zealand against Afghanistan last night. Tim Seifert (65) and Glenn Phillips (42) helped New Zealand overcome a top-order wobble and chase down the target with 13 balls to spare. "It's always nice to start the tournament with a few runs, but the main thing is we got the win," player of the match Seifert said. Seifert and Phillips then fought fire with fire in a 74-run partnership off 47 balls that put the pressure back on Afghanistan. Rashid was not happy with how Afghanistan bowled in the match.

They plan to take her to Europe for further treatment, saying they no longer have trust in the New Zealand health system. Her father, Marvin Weyland, said the doctor consulted a specialist at Dunedin Hospital's orthopaedics department in April 2023. Lubomira Weyland after a hip operation that, according to overseas experts, was the wrong kind. Scans showed surgery had failedThe report, which Mira's parents have shared with RNZ, includes comments by two orthopaedic surgeons who reviewed the post-operative scans of Mira's hip and could see the hip was not properly aligned. The review found the GP had not made a formal referral regarding Mira's hip creases, but just sought advice.

Pat and Lynette Widdup, of Palmerston North, prepare to drive their 1931 MG M-Type at the 2026 MG National Rally in Dunedin’s Octagon yesterday. It was the marketing slogan for the 1931 MG M-Type, and while it had four-wheel brakes for safety, it was by no means fast for its time. He bought the car in 1955, in good working order, initially as a cheap runabout for work and trips to town. The car was one of more than 60 in Dunedin’s Octagon yesterday, as part of the 2026 MG National Rally. Hosted by the MG Car Club Otago-Southland centre, the week-long celebration of the British brand will now tour to Invercargill, before finishing in Cromwell this Saturday.

By Tim Brown of RNZThe Court of Appeal will this week consider an application by the white supremacist who murdered 51 people in the Christchurch terror attacks to vacate his guilty pleas and stand trial. In March 2020 he pleaded guilty at the High Court to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one terrorism charge. If the court grants the application to vacate the pleas, the case will be sent back to the High Court for the terrorist to stand trial. If the court declines the application then a further hearing will consider the sentence appeal later this year. The application will be heard by Court of Appeal president Justice Christine French, Justice Susan Thomas and Justice David Collins.

Melbourne man Gerard Dean displays his model Wimmera Tiger tank he built from scratch. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHAfter making its way around the globe, a special World War 2 model tank rumbled into Dunedin at the weekend. A Wimmera Tiger war tank was the star attraction at the Otago Model Engineering Society’s annual exhibition, albeit a slightly smaller model than the one in action in World War 2. The real-life Tiger 141 tank was part of the Arbteilung 504 Heavy Panzer Division in World War 2 that was first in action on the Eastern Front in 1943. Mr Dean said he started building his tank in 2003 as a way to combine his electrical skills and passion for model building.

In the lead-up to his death, Woodford and his wife discussed plans to move the shed and use it to store firewood. “As a child, Mr Woodford had helped his father build a hut at Waterloo Station. “He immediately travelled to the hut to look for Mr Woodford, where he came across Mr Woodford’s ute with its door open,” Coroner Cunninghame said. “Mr Woodford was lying dead nearby, about a metre and a half away from a large hole in the ground. “Neither line of inquiry was helpful, so Mr Woodford decided to destroy it by detonating it in a remote area.

ESNZ meteorologist Chester Lampkin said the only places in the South where January temperatures were above average were coastal areas of Fiordland, and Westland. The only temperature record to break in the South was at Waipounamu, near Riversdale, in Southland, which had a January record coldest daily minimum air temperature of 0.0°C on January 30. Only four locations observed near-record high mean temperatures. The country’s warmest location relative to normal was Kawerau, where the mean temperature of 22.1°C was 2.3°C above normal. Strong winds on January 11 helped South West Cape record its highest-equal January extreme wind gust, when it reached 180kmh.

Engaging her in debate about whether she needed to ask such questions was not helpful, she told Cr Ong. Cr Ong had complained about what he claimed were "discriminatory remarks" by Cr Chambers last year about the South Asian community. Cr Ong suggested there was none, other than that they happened at a workshop and in a conversation afterwards. Cr Ong noted the investigation was preliminary and said "it should proceed beyond that". Just before their discussion ended, Ms Dyhrberg asked Cr Ong if he had anything else he thought was relevant at this point.

Santana's planned Central Otago gold mine could be declined approval if it fails to meet Treaty of Waitangi obligations, a lawyer for Ngāi Tahu warns. There may be "inconsistencies arising" with regard to meeting Treaty obligations, she said. An accompanying Ngāi Tahu memorandum also said there could be "potential breaches of Treaty settlements". Ngāi Tahu counsel said it was a "very good question", but the "Treaty was the first step of importance here". Technical reports had subsequently been sent to Ngāi Tahu, he said.