Police are appealing for sightings of this white Holden Colorado ute. Photo: NZ PoliceCentral Otago police investigating a burglary in Alexandra want the public’s help to locate a related vehicle. ‘‘A second vehicle, a white Holden Colorado ute, was stolen from Ōmakau about 1pm - and it is this vehicle police are seeking," Sgt Price said. Photo: Supplied/ FacebookA trailer, and the ute owner’s dogs, were with the vehicle at the time it was stolen, he said. ‘‘The trailer has been found, but the ute and dogs have not yet been located.

January 03, 2026 22:27 UTC

An early 1990s promotional photo of the Dead Flowers with Bryan Bell (second from right) and Riqi Harawira (right). Kiwi rock band the Dead Flowers released three albums in the 1990s: Skin of a Stone, Sweetfish and the 1998 self-titled Dead Flowers. Harawira’s journey into the Dead Flowers came after previous stints with Whiskey and Lace and My World Crazy bands – tipped for a bright future, but who broke up. ‘I broke my heart again’Standing on stage at Te Teko in his first gig in a three-piece covers band, Harawira asked himself: “What am I? Riqi Harawira says helping make a difference in other people's lives has been a source of pride.

January 03, 2026 22:04 UTC

Ripirō Beach in Northland. Photo: WikipediaTwo men have drowned at a beach in Northland. Police were called about 6.50pm yesterday to reports the pair could be seen struggling in water at Ripirō Beach, between Mahuta Gap and Glinks Gully. Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) confirmed surf lifeguards responded to an incident at Glinks Gully. Police had informed surf lifeguards that two people were caught in a rip, 300 metres north of the access way at Glinks Gully, approximately 17km south of the Baylys Beach patrolled area.

January 03, 2026 21:57 UTC

Navarro, who first picked up a racquet as a 3-year-old, then doubled down with a spectacular 2024 season. It started with a semi-final appearance in Auckland, beaten by eventual champion Gauff, followed by her first WTA title in Hobart the following week. His company has a wide-ranging investment portfolio – from sport to hotels to real estate – and he owns two prominent tournaments, the Cincinnati Open and the Charleston WTA Open. Excited to compete again after breakBefore the ASB Classic, Navarro is feeling recharged, after a longer than usual off season, with 10 weeks in South Carolina. “For me there will be nothing really too different or too new [this week],” said Navarro.

January 03, 2026 21:30 UTC

Even then, both of them knew that this day would eventually come...Wilhelmina and Ben's story is one of passionate and intense love. It had already been a morning of exhilaration for Ben and his groomsmen, Brendon Pickerill, Jim Knowles, Liam Scanlon and Vincent Ringrose, after surprising his mates with bungy jumps in true Queenstown fashion. Indeed, his eyes were wet as he watched his bride make her way to the white rose petal-strewn altar. Photo / Jonny Scott PhotographyBen then shared, “My whole life, I had been searching for you. “I’m the safest, happiest and most secure I’ve ever been in my whole life,” she enthuses.

January 03, 2026 20:34 UTC

Lulu Sun is out with a wrist injury. Photo: Getty ImagesNew Zealand tennis star Lulu Sun has had to withdraw from next week's ASB Classic with a wrist injury. Sun was expected to be one of the big attractions for the tournament in Auckland, but said an injured wrist had not recovered in time. "Definitely not the way I wanted to start the new year but since Guangzhou I have been struggling with a wrist injury following a neck injury," the 24-year-old said in an Instagram post. When her entry for the Auckland tournament was announced in September, Sun enthused about returning to play at home.

January 03, 2026 19:39 UTC

Police responded to the incident in Northland on Saturday evening. Two people dead after ‘water-related incident’ at Ripirō Beach near DargavillePolice responded to the incident in Northland on Saturday evening. Photo / Sue TaylorTwo people have died at a Northland beach in a “water-related incident”. A police spokesperson said they received a report that two men could be seen struggling in the water at Ripirō Beach between Mahuta Gap and Glinks Gully at about 6.50pm yesterday. “Our thoughts are with their family and friends during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said.

January 03, 2026 19:23 UTC

The NZ Herald’s annual New Zealand’s Best Beach competition is taking votes again for 2026, and nominations are open now at nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach. You can nominate one contender for each category, and nominations stay open until the end of Sunday, January 11. Last year, Waipu Cove effectively emerged as the new overall best beach, winning both Best Family Beach and Best Camping Beach and placing second in Best Surf Beach. The 2025 Best City Beach went to Mount Maunganui (Main Beach), with Ōrewa in second place, after Ōrewa won the Best City Beach category in 2023. For Coasties, it’s a simple moment to pop in, scroll the categories, and put forward your favourite Hibiscus Coast beaches across as many categories as you can.

January 03, 2026 19:01 UTC

However, it was not designed to rule out perfectly good goals because someone’s shoulder, knee or toenail is ahead of the last defender. – Michael BurgessRugby: Out of the boxProposed change: Rugby players can call “mark” for a fair catch anywhere in their own half. There’s a nuclear option for this rule change: let players take fair catch marks anywhere on the field. Proposed change: Session breaks in test cricket both 30 minutes. Photo / PhotosportRugby: End the endless advantageProposed change: Instate a limit to the advantage rule in rugby union.

January 03, 2026 18:03 UTC

Chatwin said the factors that motivated teenagers to commit violent crimes were multifaceted and should be addressed to combat the issue. Some of the factors included abuse, a history of violence, family circumstances and involvement with drugs and alcohol. We are seeing them posted to social media where people look and laugh and then try to simulate these horrifying acts. Police told the Herald they located the group of offenders a short time later in Beachlands and they were taken into custody. The mother said the group of offenders allegedly fled and committed another assault and theft only days later.

January 03, 2026 17:34 UTC

Fern SutherlandBack Beach, Taranaki, is my favourite beach. My favourite beach memories involve pōhutukawa trees blooming in the summertime. Ōpito Bay in the Coromandel is NZ's best beach, according to Shortland Street's Jane Wills. Jane Wills plays Phil Grayson in Shortland Street on TVNZ2 and TVNZ+Jason ReevesMy favourite beach would be Waihī Beach. Nominate your favourite beaches in our five categories: Best Family Beach, Best Surf Beach, Best City Beach, Best Hidden Gem Beach and Best Camping Beach.

January 03, 2026 17:33 UTC

The US President spoke to media after a US military operation to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from the country. Video / AFPWinston Peters says NZ ‘concerned’ by US strike on Venezuela as Maduro lands in USLoad moreSign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.

January 03, 2026 17:29 UTC

The North Island has experienced widespread thunderstorms since the start of the New Year. Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings were in place across the upper North Island yesterday, with hail and lightning strikes causing havoc in Auckland. The rest of the North Island should see a mainly fine and cloudy day today, with some isolated showers possible. Hail fell across parts of the North Island yesterday, including in Auckland's North Shore. Moving into Monday, MetService has predicted a mainly fine day for the North Island, with scattered showers from Northland to Coromandel Peninsula.

January 03, 2026 16:55 UTC

While he was flaunting his wealth and bragging about his status, his minions were kept busy operating the multimillion-dollar meth and cocaine supply network out of Christchurch. He was responsible primarily for sourcing significant quantities of the drugs from organised criminal groups in Auckland and elsewhere. They came to an end in late 2023 when the group were busted as part of Operation Italian Sky. The national vice-president of the Tribesmen Motorcycle gang was in custody as the operation identified 11 members and associates of the Tribesmen operating a meth and cocaine supply network. Associates and prospects are predominantly the workers of the group, completing drug runs and selling drugs at the direction of patched members.

January 03, 2026 15:18 UTC

Patrick Dunachie, Edward Button, Julian Gregory, Christopher Bruerton, Nick Ashby and Piers Connor Kennedy make up the King's Singers current line-up. His humble nature and his committed work ethic speak to his Canterbury upbringing, of which Bruerton is eternally grateful for. Through countless Evensongs and Choral Eucharists, he followed the footsteps of his big brother at the prestigious Canterbury Choral School and proceeded to take every choral singing opportunity he could. He’d soon be swapping Christchurch for Christ Church, Oxford, where, after a few years, an out-of-the-blue email to audition for the King’s Singers arrived. It was a very special place.”Bruerton is especially excited to perform in the revamped Town Hall on his final Kiwi tour with the singers.

January 03, 2026 14:40 UTC