IntroductionRail across New Zealand is in an existential fight for its survival as a national network across New Zealand. With many fiscal pressures looming in the medium term for New Zealand, KiwiRail is becoming an increasing financial burden on the government’s balance sheet. How will it go down when we broadcast to the World that New Zealand is seriously considering abandoning its national rail network. Rail is a key enabler and link in the transport network in the same way that roads and the Interisland link are. Without a Rail network there can be no national passenger rail service.

Photo: ODT filesThree women have been arrested after being found in stolen cars in Dunedin at the weekend, police say. She was arrested and charged with possession of an offensive weapon, two charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of stolen property. A day earlier, another vehicle was stopped also in Cumberland St after it was flagged as stolen. A 43-year-old woman was driving when stopped and arrested for possession of stolen property. The 37-year-old driver was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property.

Written By: darien fenton - Date published: 8:36 am, December 18th, 2023 - 57 commentsCategories: act, national, nz first, same old national, Unions, workers' rights - Tags:This coming week, under urgency and leading into Xmas, the Coalition government will expand 90-day trials to all workers, in yet another payback to National/ACT/NZ First’s (NAF) business backers. But they forgot any regulation or standards for bargaining agents such as those who advertise “no win” “no fee” services. But I don’t accept they should continue to operate without regulation in a free for all. Reducing workers’ rights because employers may face “costly grievance procedures” is a rubbish argument. So employers can say “don’t come Monday” – no excuses, no exceptions.

Both the Defence Force's Boeing 757s are potentially out of operation. Wednesday day trip is Luxon’s first meeting another nation's leader as Prime Minister and will still go ahead, but the issue with the planes will likely mean a smaller media contingent goes with him. Asked today why his position had changed, he said the 757s meant more media were able to join the trip. Luxon said the same issue that affected Peters’ trip was threatening his. “Look, I think it’s incredibly embarrassing ... we’re not sending people to the moon, just trying to get them to Australia,” he said.

Lucy Black reviews a debut mystery novel based on the painting Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez. Of all the art that you have seen, which consumes you? Which art hangs on the wall of a gallery or private room and calls to you? Which painting lures you in so much ...

Hastings has Lamb flavoured ice creamDo you like the sound of Lamb and mint, honey, figs and fish and chips? Try it as a flavour in ice cream. Reporter Michaela Gower went along to taste test. Video Warren Buckland

Investigators are looking into two suspicious fires in Christchurch. Photo: NZ HeraldInvestigations are under way into two suspicious house fires in Christchurch, one of which was the second at the same property in three days. There were two suspicious house fires less than 100m apart on the same street in the suburb of Northcote overnight. The house which is undergoing construction work suffered a suspicious fire at about 3.30am on Friday. “Police received a report of two house fires on Northcote Road, Northcote - one at midnight and another at 4am,” a spokesman said.

And the NZ Government 10 year bond rate unchanged from yesterday at 4.67% but down -31 bps from a week ago. The price of gold will start today unchanged at just on US$2033/oz and that is up +US$36/oz from a week ago. The Kiwi dollar starts today at 62.1 USc and little-changed from Saturday. That all means our TWI-5 starts today just on 70.4, unchanged too and +20 bps higher than a week ago. The bitcoin price starts today at US$41,922 and up a mere +US$31 (<0.01%) from this time Saturday.

Police at Royal Reserve park this morning. Photo: NZ HeraldA homicide investigation is under way and a man has been charged with murder following a death in an Auckland park overnight. A man was found dead at the Royal Reserve park in Beauchamp Drive, Massey, around 12.10am. Detective Inspector Aaron Proctor said a 26-year-old man was arrested this morning and will appear in Waitākere District Court today charged with murder. ”We live in Massey and we normally come for a walk through the park after our fit club.

Hastings has Lamb flavoured ice creamDo you like the sound of Lamb and mint, honey, figs and fish and chips? Try it as a flavour in ice cream. Reporter Michaela Gower went along to taste test. Video Warren Buckland

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “Parliament’s final week, Wellington shake-up and hot weather | Focus Morning Bulletin, December 18” – below is their description. The Government enters its final week of the year, a shake-up for the capital’s transport plans and 30C-plus temperatures expected across the country in the latest NZ Herald headlines. Full Story: https://bit.ly/3RJyp7sSubscribe 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

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Why are so many of the best places in the country to swim, especially in urban areas, so polluted? And how do we solve the problem? Shanti Mathias investigates. T here’s a place Marnie Prickett returns to often, in her head if not her body. The river is cool and glassy, ...

This week was another productive one for the Prime Minister- The Reserve Bank's dual mandate, the clean car discount scheme and fair pay agreements have all been scrapped. It follows a busy year in the world of politics, with three Prime Ministers and several policy bonfires to keep track of. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says this has been the busiest year in politics since 1990. "Not only did we have Labour's sweep of changes and repeals- Labour changed Three Waters - National's coming in and changing them again. It's been a year of more changes than others."

The 19th edition of the Super Smash starts on 19 December 2023 and will run until 28 January 2024. Stags failed to qualify for the knockout stage in the 2022/23 Super Smash. Dane Cleaver will lead the side this season with internationally capped players including Tom Bruce, Will Young, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner, Seth Rance, and Doug Bracewell. The bowling unit, led by Ajaz Patel, seems well-rounded with the combination of Jayden Lennox, Blair Tickner, and Seth Rance. As they enter the 19th edition, the Central Stags, with a rich history and a blend of seasoned players, are determined to vie for their fourth title in the Super Smash.