NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Nicola Willis is set to announce details of cost relief measures for low-to-middle income households today; Canterbury crowned top regional economy. Police investigating a violent central Christchurch stabbing are calling on the public to help identify a person they believe could assist in inquiries. Christchurch Metro CIB Detective Sergeant Ben Rolton said officers were called to Worcester St, between Latimer Square and Barbadoes St, around 10pm on Thursday, rel="noreferrer" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christchurch/police-hunt-offender-after-woman-reportedly-stabbed-in-central-christchurch/CMG7QUVYJZEM3DFYDCIHP4BK5A/">following reports a person had sustained wounds consistent with being stabbed. A woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital with serious injuries and underwent surgery. “We are now working to identify the person pictured as we believe they were in the area at the time of the incident and have information that can assist our investigation,” Rolton said.

National Emergency Management Agency advises what to do if caught near the shore during an earthquake. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Large earthquake strikes Tonga, no tsunami threat for New ZealandTsunami sirens blared and residents told to evacuate after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga. The quake hit about 150km west of Neiafu, Tonga at a depth of 237km at 5.38pm NZ time, the US Geological Survey said. After assessment by the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) and GNS Science, Nema said there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand.

Early starts always make long days feel possible, even if it’s hard getting ourselves out of bed initially. The way out of Piacenza is long, straight and ugly — industrial zones, slightly seedy truck stops, large areas of waste ground. Each long walk seems to confront me with a single fear to work through — often accompanied by black dogs on the path. We cross a broken bridge, walk on under the hum of the Autostrada del Sole and arrive at Fidenza. Tomorrow is a long one — another 30km or more — and after 77 days of walking, 33 is the new 23.

Photo: Al WilliamsA man bought his partner a cat only to subject it to serious acts of cruelty as their relationship broke down, including pulling it’s teeth out with pliers. Two veterinarians examined Max, the first saying the injuries and circumstances leading to them would have caused the cat pain and distress. A vet who viewed the footage said holding the cat by its tail would have caused immediate distress, pain and discomfort. It was only three months earlier that the cat had been examined by a vet who discovered fractures to its teeth. When asked by his partner why he had broken the cat’s teeth, Feng said the cat had bitten him, and he was afraid the cat would bite their daughter.

Photo: Supplied / Pamu FarmsFive groups are vying to take over the country's largest farm. Molesworth Station, the iconic high country property, is run as a cattle farm by state-owned Pāmu. Applications closed last week with five groups putting forward applications to take over running farm operations at Molesworth. And we're looking forward to working through those and working out who the best and most appropriate person is to take Molesworth forward into the future." Jim Ward, former manager of Molesworth station.

Brooke van Velden’s sudden departure from ACT raises serious political questions — not just about her own future, but about the stability of a party already under pressure in the polls. Pay equity reforms remain deeply contestedThe woman who destroyed pay parity and robbed the poorest working women with the most despicable move ever in NZ Labour relations history is quitting! Why this resignation raises questionsIt is an enormous and deeply suspicious move by Brooke, who is the only other Electorate holder in ACT. She is a radioactively toxic individual who is highly despised for her role in destroying working women’s pay equity. She has caused working women more damage than menopause and osteoporosis combined.

Gold prices fell to a nearly four-month low on Monday, with the Gold Hits 4-Month Low trend reflecting global market weakness, rising inflation concerns, and expectations of higher interest rates that pushed silver down over 3% and reduced demand for precious metals. Domestic Rates Edge Lower Across CitiesIn India, bullion prices followed global cues with modest declines in early trade. Silver prices dropped more sharply, declining Rs 100 to Rs 2,44,900 per kilogram. Silver prices remained largely uniform at Rs 2,44,900 per kilogram in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, while Chennai quoted higher at Rs 2,49,900. Rising crude oil prices are fueling global inflation concerns, increasing the likelihood of prolonged higher interest rates.

NZ20 has triumphed, but the administration disaster at New Zealand Cricket continues. Former Black Cap Dion Nash —understood to have been against the local franchise league that has been provisionally accepted— has resigned from NZC's board. A statement says Nash was no longer aligned with the future direction of the organisation. NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge that it’s not surprising to see Nash falling on his sword. He says it was sort of known behind the scenes that he was the one board member really against NZ20, and without him, they could’ve come to this conclusion a few months ago.

Australian mining company Siren Gold hopes to extract billions of dollars worth of gold at Sams Creek in the Upper Tākaka Valley. The group wanted to engage with Siren Gold and voice their concerns but did not hold out much hope, he said. Exploration drilling was ongoing at the site as the company awaited the result of its mining permit application, he said. MBIE minerals and offshore renewable energy national manager petroleum John Buick-Constable said the Sams Creek Gold mining permit application was still being assessed. The company's existing exploration permit remained in force while its mining permit was being assessed, Buick-Constable said.

Synthony at the Auckland Domain is New Zealand’s biggest one-day music festival. Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra members concentrate under pressure. But Synthony has built up an almost cult-like following since its first ever show at the Auckland Town Hall in 2017. The joy started with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, which acted as backing band for the set of EDM classics in the day’s headline concert. Though Timothée Chalamet recently gave ballet and opera a terminal diagnosis, at Synthony the philharmonic showed aging artforms don’t have to lay down and die quietly.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneThe Reserve Bank governor is warning of higher inflation and weaker economic growth due to the Middle East crisis. "We are likely to see higher headline inflation over the near term, and somewhat weaker growth momentum," Breman said. "For this type of disruption, we would likely see higher inflation over the next few quarters, along with squeezed real incomes and demand." She said the peak impact of monetary policy on inflation took about six to nine quarters. Higher fertiliser prices were another factor, and she believed it could take up to nine months to fully pass through to supermarket prices.

Reuters witnesses heard at least three blasts in Beirut's Dahiyeh district late on Monday, as the Israeli military said it had attacked Hezbollah sites in the city. An earlier strike in Beirut on Monday killed a commander of the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Israeli military said. "I say here definitively...in every room and in every discussion, too: the new Israeli border must be the Litani," Smotrich said. Defence Minister Israel Katz said earlier this monththat Lebanon could face "loss of territory" if it did not disarm Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has outlawed Hezbollah military activity and said it wants to engage ​in direct talks with Israel.

Christchurch District Court. Photo: RNZPolice have laid several serious charges against a man connected to a religious organisation with links around the Pacific. Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie said a 45-year-old man would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday morning. "Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a religious organisation that has a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji," Baillie said. "Today's arrest follows a number of allegations, and partner agencies are supporting those that have come forward.

Superintendent Lane Todd said the incident was a reminder of the dangers of power infrastructure. File photo: Getty ImagesChristchurch police are investigating the electrocution of a man who is believed to have been attempting to take copper from a transformer. Power was automatically cut to 513 properties in Burwood and surrounding areas, but the linesman had to manually cut power to the transformer. "We are making a number of enquiries, however it appears the man may have been attempting to retrieve copper from the transformer," Todd said. "Emergency services were unable to reach the man immediately as the transformer was still live.

By Jo Moir of RNZIt will be months of hiked up fuel prices at the pump even if the conflict in the Middle East was to end today, according to government officials. "They indicated to us they're expecting, and the government is expecting this to go on for months ... that the escalated price in fuel is going to go on for months," Hipkins told media on his way to caucus. He ruled out any wage subsidy support for employees but has indicated Labour would go further than the government in other support. *Correction: This story has been changed to reflect officials said it would be months of escalated fuel prices. Labour leader Chris Hipkins separately used 100 days as an example of how long the pain might go on.