5 of the best submissions in 2023. 5 of the best submissions in 2023. dark

With a heat spell on its way, climate scientists confirmed 2023 was the country’s second-hottest year on record. Niwa meteorologist Chris Brandolino said the country is experiencing hotter temperatures and more extreme weather events. Brandolino said 2022 was “a whisker” warmer than 2023, so remained Aotearoa’s hottest year – though last year pushed 2021 into third place. The Pacific has just experienced a rare “triple dip” La Niña, Brandolino said. Notably, the country was influenced by more “blocking” high pressure systems in the second half of 2023.

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!

Israel Adesanya has dodged a conviction for drunk driving in New Zealand. But, According to Adesanya’s lawyer, Karl Trotter, the international sports star faced much larger potential consequences if found guilty. Adesanya had pled guilty to the charges in September, and now a sentence has been issued by a New Zealand judge. Perhaps it’s all part of a much larger UFC magic trick. To checkout the latest and greatest UFC 297 fight card and rumors click here.

Melissa Nightingale headed over to the Wainuiomata Woolworths supermarket, which sold the winning $24m Lotto ticket, and asks shoppers how they think the money could be spent. Video / Mark MitchellA couple from Auckland is planning to spend their staggering $12.2 million Lotto Powerball windfall on “sensible stuff.”Their Powerball First Division ticket was sold on MyLotto for the last draw of the year, on December 30. “It wasn’t until late that evening that I had time to check my ticket,” the woman said. “When I saw all my numbers line up, I realised I’d won $12 million,” the woman said. “It wasn’t until we got the call from Lotto NZ that the reality started to sink in,” the woman said.

READ MORE: Unseen photo of Kate released on milestone birthdayDon't be that annoying person at the camping grounds. Don't leave food scraps aroundFancy a snuggle with some mice? READ MORE: How to save big on kitchen appliances, vacuums, and AirPods this Januarydon't leave food scraps at the campsite if you want to eat in peace. They're bold enough as they are; they don't need further encouragement to snoop around humans' bags and chilly bins. Aldi brings back budget camping essentials View GalleryHave funRegardless of the rules, most importantly, bring good energy to the campground.

They sold 830 properties in the month, more than in eight of the other 2023 months. Listing levels were low, with them adding just 666 properties in the month, the lowest for a December since 2018. These recent low levels of listings enabled them to record a very low drop-out rate (listings that went off their books unsold) of 6%. Median prices have held up, as have average prices. To start receiving them, register here (it's free) and when approved you can select any of our free email newsletters.

An Auckland couple couldn't believe their eyes when they realised they'd won $12.2 million in 2023's final Lotto draw. The couple discovered they'd won the jackpot on the evening of December 30, a while after the live draw had taken place. “When I saw all my numbers line up, I realised I’d won $12 million!”ADVERTISEMENTThe woman immediately told her husband, who "didn't believe" the news. “It wasn’t until we got the call from Lotto NZ that the reality started to sink in,” the woman said. They plan on investing in "sensible, mundane stuff" like "a house and the future".

Power has been restored to all of Wellington's train lines after a major fault stranded thousands of commuters across the region. Shortly after 9pm, Knight said "all Wellington railway lines affected by today's power outages have now returned to normal functionality". Metlink had notified commuters of the power issue just before 3.30pm and recommended people find other transport options. Commuters stranded by the train outage in Wellington on January 10, 2024. Earlier this summer, KiwiRail imposed temporary speed restrictions on the train line between Wellington and Kāpiti as a result of track temperatures.

An Auckland couple who had a bumper start to the year when they won $12.2 million with Lotto Powerball are looking forward to spending their winnings on "mundane stuff" and things that "really matter". The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, are regular Lotto players and bought a ticket for the final draw of 2023 that took place on December 30. "I was too busy doing things around the house, and it wasn't until late that evening that I had time to check my ticket," the woman said. When the woman logged into her MyLotto account, she saw a message saying 'Major Prize Winner' but she didn't realise the extent of her winnings until she checked her ticket. "When I saw all my numbers line up, I realised I'd won $12 million!"

There are so many misconceptions about consensus in science: What is a consensus? Does science work via consensus?" website - talked with John Cook about the scientific consensus in general and about his studyTo answer these and many other questions, Melanie Trecek-King - who runs the " Thinking is Power ...

The Tiktoker comes in hot with the first of her unexpected shout outs to our indigenous foods, saying the she loves the traditional Māori sourdough potato bread so much so she even learned how to make it herself. She also rates NZ butter, saying she "couldn't imagine having American butter on her bread", but here, that's not a problem.

James Reid playing with The Feelers playing at Edgefest in 2005. Photo: NZ HeraldThe lead singer of one of the country’s most prominent bands, The Feelers, is before the courts having allegedly failed to stop for police and refusing a blood test. Charging documents claim that Reid failed to stop for police in Christchurch. Reid is the lead singer of the band which formed in Christchurch in 1993. The Feelers are currently on The Feelers Reimagined Greatest Hits Tour around New Zealand and will be playing in Arrowtown on Thursday.

File photo: NZ Herald2023 was New Zealand's second hottest year on record and among the cloudiest, NIWA has announced today. Globally, last year has been confirmed today as the warmest year on record but in New Zealand the record belongs to 2022. May and September were the warmest on record, coming in 1.1C and 2C above the 1991-2020 monthly averages. NIWA says it is the first month to have a temperature below average since May 2017. And the place with the highest recorded sunshine hours last year was not Whakatāne or Nelson as is often the case.

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “Manurewa shooting, France’s next PM and cheap eggs | Focus Morning Bulletin, January 10, 2024” – below is their description. More details emerge as Police continue to probe a New Year’s Day shooting, meet France’s next and youngest-ever prime minister plus why The Warehouse is ruffling feathers in the egg market in the latest NZ Herald headlines. Full story: https://bit.ly/3tEAWqm Subscribe and be notified of breaking news: https://goo.gl/LP45jX Check out our playlists: https://goo.gl/Swd249 Like NZ Herald on Facebook: https://goo.gl/tUC4oq Follow NZ Herald on Instagram: https://goo.gl/oLicXe Follow NZ Herald on Twitter: https://goo.gl/Wi6mbv nzherald.co.nz YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.