“Kim missed the chance to be a spokesperson for shelter pups and instead is being rightly slammed on social media for that.”Kim Kardashian purchased four Pomeranian puppies as Christmas presents for each of her children. Photo / InstagramThe criticism intensified after sister Khloe Kardashian, 41, announced on Christmas day that she had also bought her family a dog, sharing photos of a black Labrador retriever and tagging Indiana-based Labrador retriever breeder Big Creek Labradors. Dog rescuer Nicole, who runs the Instagram account @nicoleandthedogss, said celebrities should be encouraging adoption instead of promoting breeders, Newsweek said. Newkirk also criticised the breeder tag and urged both sisters to consider adopting a shelter dog in future. The Kardashian family has owned a wide range of pets over the years, including dogs, cats, reptiles and horses, People reported.

December 30, 2025 07:33 UTC

Search and rescue teams worked for 12 hours to extract an elderly man from deep bush. Photo / Waihī Land Search & Rescue12-hour extraction missionThe Waihī Land Search and Rescue team said members of LandSAR Waihi were called at 3am to assist. Search and rescue teams navigated some "challenging terrain" to get the elderly man to safety. Photo / Waihī Land Search & RescueThe rescue crews were still an hour and a half from the carpark and arrived there just before dark. “Multiple rescue organisations coming together for the same outcome – bringing the lost, missing or injured home to their families,” Waihī Land Search and Rescue said.

December 30, 2025 07:32 UTC

A man has been pulled to safety after being trapped on a rock surrounded by waves at Whangaparāoa. “He tried to go and help that guy, and he got to safety, but he got stuck on the rocks,” she said. A man has been pulled to safety after being trapped on a rock surrounded by waves at Whangaparāoa. Photo / Riki WaughA witness, Riki Waugh, told the Herald the lifeguards who were part of the rescue were “absolute legends”. A man attempting to save a windsurfer has been pulled to safety after being stuck on a rock amid wild seas.

December 30, 2025 07:26 UTC

“And, in fact, it’s been surprisingly quiet.”That could be because people had not recognised it, he said. “The other possibility is that, in fact, this new invasive species is not as widespread as ... early indications suggested. “It could be that they’re hotspots because that’s just where we’ve paid attention, or they’re real hotspots because there are relatively high densities of these spiders just in those places,” Trewick said. “Sort of a classic cartoon spider, not your hairy tarantula-y kind of spider at all,” he said. The spiders were most active at night, and they were speedy and could disappear quickly once disturbed, said Trewick.

December 30, 2025 07:26 UTC

However, rain has moved further south and several heavy rain watches and warnings remain in place for the next couple of days. Gusty southeasterlies continued today, especially over the South Island where an orange wind warning remains in place this afternoon. The council said weather reports indicated heavy rain and strong winds during event set-up, with conditions highly likely to continue into Wednesday. Clean-up continuesStrong winds brought down trees in parts of the South Island overnight. Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

December 30, 2025 06:33 UTC





Genson became acquainted with the shelter when he adopted a dog, Charli, in 2015. Photo / Courtesy of Darren GensonShelter staff warned the Gensons that Charli had been returned twice after being adopted – likely because of destructive behaviour. Photo / Courtesy of Darren GensonA few years after adopting Charli, in 2018, Genson and his wife brought home a senior cat from the shelter. Genson worked with shelter staff and animal control officers to learn how best to approach these dogs and get them to warm up to him. “He takes out the hardest cases,” said Amber Guthrie, a behaviour/rescue co-ordinator at Anne Arundel County Animal Services.

December 30, 2025 03:33 UTC

Police are conducting a scene examination on Karangahape Road after a large fight took place in the early hours of the morning. Police appeal for footage after weekend mass brawl on Auckland’s Karangahape RdPolice have issued an appeal for any video footage taken of a mass brawl on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd. The fight involved more than 50 people and occurred around 3.41am on Sunday. Police are investigating the incident which involved three serious assaults and three badly injured victims taken to hospital. Police have set up an online portal for the public to upload any images or video they have of the disorder.

December 30, 2025 03:21 UTC

Ricky Gervais will skip the Golden Globes despite being nominated, citing the distance as too far. Photo / Getty ImagesRicky Gervais will skip the Golden Globes despite being nominated, citing the distance as too far. Photo / Getty ImagesRicky Gervais will skip the Golden Globes next month despite being nominated for an award because it’s “too far to go”. During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life, Ricky – who has hosted the Golden Globes five times – explained: “I didn’t have any joy watching my fat face on screen. I just want peace and quiet …“I’m probably not going to the Golden Globes … It’s too far to go.

December 30, 2025 03:08 UTC

Trump claims US has hit and destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuela drug boatsVenezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Photo / Getty ImagesThe United States has hit and destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuela drug boats, President Donald Trump said today. It could amount to the first land strike of the military campaign against trafficking from Latin America. His confirmation of the incident comes as he ramps up pressure against Venezuela’s leftist President Nicolas Maduro, who has accused Trump of seeking regime change. “So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area, it’s the implementation area, that’s where they implement.

December 30, 2025 02:37 UTC

"And I guess the circulation around those low pressure systems mean that it's mostly the North Island and most of the South Island that gets the bulk of that weather. "The far south seems to miss out on it and Invercargill is likely to get some of the better weather, maybe drier weather. "It's mostly due to where that low pressure system is moving and the circulation around it. She said Invercargill did get "a bad rap" for weather because it was the most southerly city and the most exposed to cold Antarctic weather. The rainband will sink further south, affecting eastern areas of the South Island from today until the end of the year.

December 30, 2025 01:33 UTC

Holiday traffic was also causing delays southbound on SH1 in Waikato between Hamilton and Tīrau. As of 3pm, much of the southbound traffic build-up was starting to lessen. Image / NZTAEarlier this afternoon, the NZTA traffic dashboard indicated the route from Bombay to Auckland City on SH1 would take 14 minutes longer than usual. The route from Auckland City to Bombay via SH1, SH20, and SH16 was initially expected to take about 20 minutes longer than usual. The NZTA holiday journey planner predicted that the traffic southbound on SH1 from Manukau to Bombay will remain busy until 4.30pm.

December 30, 2025 00:04 UTC

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …

December 29, 2025 23:43 UTC

The lowest road toll in recent history was in 2013, where 253 people died in crashes. Director of road policing Superintendent Steven Greally told the Herald there are many variables that impact the road toll, but its decline can partly be attributed to an increase in road policing efforts over the past three years. The 2025 road toll is on track for historic lows amid tougher policing, safer roads and a weak economy. “Road policing is just one aspect of that.”AA agreed increased police presence and alcohol enforcement on roads has helped reduce road deaths. Newly released 2024 figures show alcohol-related road deaths fell from 92 in 2023 to 57 in 2024.

December 29, 2025 23:36 UTC

The Japanese 10 year bond yield is up + bp and back at 2.05%. The Australian 10 year bond yield starts today at 4.74%, dipping - bp from yesterday. The NZ Government 10 year bond rate starts today at 4.56%, down -2 bps on that same basis. That all means our TWI-5 starts today just on 62.1, and also down -20 bps from yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today at US$87,663 and virtually unchanged from this time yesterday.

December 29, 2025 23:29 UTC

Tyler Robinson attends a virtual court hearing from Utah County Jail. Photo / Getty ImagesThe judge presiding over the criminal case of Tyler Robinson, accused of killing political activist Charlie Kirk, has ordered transcripts and audio recordings from a previously closed court hearing to be made public. Fourth District Judge Tony Graf issued the ruling during a video conference hearing today, according to the New York Post. “This case generates extraordinary, ongoing national and international attention, some of which is threatening in nature to the parties, the representatives and non-party participants,” Graf said. “The safety and wellbeing of all involved in this matter outweighs the interests of the public that are served by open court records.”The material to be released comes from an October 24 closed-door hearing that considered whether Robinson would be allowed to appear in court unshackled and wearing civilian clothes.

December 29, 2025 22:57 UTC