A man was captured standing on the roof of a moving car as it circles an empty Franklin carpark. It prompts fresh warnings about dangerous “car surfing” trends. Video / FacebookBystanders have captured video of a man standing on the roof of a moving car as it circles an empty car park in the Auckland district of Franklin. It is prompting fresh warnings about dangerous “car surfing” stunts being shared on social media. In the video, a maroon car can be seen slowly driving in circles around the empty car park with a man in a singlet and a blue bucket hat stand on top of the vehicle.

In a joint statement, NPD and Gull said each of their combined 240 sites would retain their distinctive brand. AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins said both companies had a low-cost business model. When Gull first arrived with that model in New Zealand it became known as the Gull effect because it dropped the prices and competitors had to match it,” he said. “We’ve been tracking the price of fuel for the last couple of months and we’re watching as the international landed prices dropped, the retail prices haven’t dropped at the same level,” he said. “The price of oil has been below US$60 at some stages and we want to see those savings passed on to our motorists.”– RNZ

Twisted marked its 10-year anniversary last summer with a strong turnout, selling nearly 3,500 tickets, but Tait said it was not enough to clear its ongoing IRD debt. New Year's festival Twisted Frequency has sold about 1000 fewer tickets than last summer's event. Photo / Twisted Frequency FestivalCompounding operational costs have driven ticket prices to $500 this year, and without a significant turnaround in sales or new funding sources, Tait said the festival’s 2026 event will be its final edition. In interviews published on Twisted Frequency’s website, Tait and the organisers of independent festivals Shipwrecked and Aum criticised the Government’s approach to events funding, arguing it favours large, commercial events over grassroots festivals. “Throughout its life, Twisted has yet to receive a single dime or any kind of funding, and that is not for lack of trying,” Tait said.

The Australian-flagged ship was reportedly undertaking its first voyage since the death of an 80-year-old passenger in October. A spokesperson for the operator, Coral Expeditions, told news.com.au, “All passengers and crew are safe.”“An initial inspection indicates no damage to the vessel,” they said. News.com.au reported that an officer from the PNG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre had boarded the ship and is providing assistance with the incident,. The luxury cruiser had reached Papua New Guinea waters on December 20 and was navigating the coastline throughout the week before Saturday’s incident occurred. News.com.au understands there is no damage to the vessel, and inspections and work to refloat the vessel are continuing today.

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Dry January participants reported better mood, improved sleep and weight loss, and had healthier blood pressure, blood sugar and liver function. And several of the studies found participants experienced some benefits from simply reducing their drinking, also known as “Damp January,” rather than abstaining entirely. About 54 percent of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol, according to a 2025 Gallup poll, the lowest that number has been since Gallup started tracking drinking behavior in 1939. How to reduce your alcohol consumptionStrowger sees Dry January as a helpful opportunity. There are also digital tools such as the Try Dry app that make tracking your alcohol use simple, Strowger said.

Photo: Getty ImagesCanterbury drivers are being urged to be cautious after an oil spill on State Highway 73, West Coast Rd near Porters Pass. The spillage reportedly extends from the Porter Pass summit to the intersection with Benmore Rd, near Springfield. Combined with rain, it is causing slippery conditions for vehicles. Crews have been sent to the site of the spill to clean up the spill. Road users travelling on this main link between Christchurch and the West Coast should drive with care and follow any directions given at the site.

Traffic backed up on State Highway 8 in the Cromwell Gorge this afternoon. Photo: Julie AsherTraffic was backed up for a couple of hours through the Cromwell Gorge after a four-vehicle crash this afternoon. Emergency services responded to reports of a crash on the Cromwell-Clyde Rd (State Highway 8) about 12.50pm. A police spokesman said four vehicles were involved and local staff had reported that one had left the road and gone down a bank. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said two crews from Clyde and Cromwell and additional support vehicles attended.

Karangahape Rd on a quieter day. Photo: The Detail/Tom KitchinPolice are asking for help to identify those involved in a brawl on Auckland's Karangahape Rd early today. Three men were hospitalised after a series of assaults following the "mass disorder", police said, and four arrested. "Around 4.15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen St. A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised. A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.

Photo: Tim Cuff / PoolMore than six months after back-to-back floods caused widespread damage across the Tasman District, the recovery is expected to cost the council $50 million and take up to two years to complete. The total cost of damage to river infrastructure was between $23 and $25m, while the roading damage was just over $20m. The report, by the Office of the Auditor-General, looked specifically at the Tasman District. The final cost was not yet known but it would be funded by Tasman District Council, Doc and NZTA. The Tasman District Council said there were several homes on the other side of the slip site and residents were able to walk out while the road remained closed.

KnowYourStuff will be at the AUM New Years Festival, Northern Bass, Twisted Frequency and Rhythm and Alps in Wānaka, while the Drug Foundation will be at Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines. KnowYourStuff spokesperson Casey Spearin said one in 10 drugs on the black market were not what they were sold as. "We recommend that anyone who is planning on taking drugs this summer tries to get them checked before they do consume if possible. Spearin said there was concern about synthetic cathinones ('bath salts', for example) being sold as MDMA (ecstasy). Often people are buying… ecstasy pills, and we do see these coming through with multiple doses of MDMA, you know, sometimes two to three doses.

After my father’s death I discovered he had re-written his will, giving 90% of his estate to Harriet, and only 10% to me and my two siblings. The new will was prepared by a lawyer unknown to me, not my father’s long-standing solicitor. Undue influence is pressure exerted on the will-maker at the time the will is prepared. In deciding whether there has been undue influence the judge will look at all the evidence. It would also be worthwhile producing evidence from a psychiatrist to comment on your father’s susceptibility to undue influence.

Photo / Universal PicturesMovies for all agesThese movies have great storylines for adults to follow and maybe even laugh along to, and enough magic to leave the kids enchanted. Soul – Disney+A hit with kids and adults, with an epic score by Jon Batiste, Soul is sure to pull at the heartstrings. Host Mark Rober, a former Nasa engineer, builds gadgets and conducts experiments that both adults and kids will love to see come to life. Chuck these on the TV for safe, family-friendly viewing you can trust won’t scar them for life. Spoken in te reo, kids will learn about friendship and exploration in a fun, locally made show.

Police are calling for witnesses and footage from the assaults around Karangahape Rd, Queen St and Cobden St. Photo / Mike ScottThe offender is still at large, and the police file number is 215228/4647. Another serious assault occurred at around 4.30am on Cobden St, off Karangahape Rd, where a 27-year-old man sustained serious injuries. Police conduct a scene examination on the corner of Karangahape Rd and Cobden St following a mass disorder incident overnight. Photo / Dean PurcellThe third serious assault unfolded at the Mobil Service Station on the corner of Karangahape Rd and Ponsonby Rd at about 5am, leaving a 46-year-old man seriously injured. Witnesses to any of the three assaults are being asked to contact police directly via 105, either by phone or online, quoting the relevant file number.

🟡🟧Wet Weather for Holiday and Festival Goers🟧🟡Monday and into Tuesday weather gets wet and wild with heavy rain and gale southeasterlies. Those heading to the Rhythm and Vines Festival should also be aware of a heavy rain warning in place in Gisborne / Tairāwhiti starting at 6am tomorrow to 3am on Tuesday. The same orange rain warning has been issued in the Hawke’s Bay for the 23 hours starting 10am tomorrow to 9am on Tuesday. Aucklanders can expect nothing but rain tomorrow, with a temperature high of 22C and overnight low of 18C. Periods of heavy rain are forecast to develop in the morning - possibly heavy - easing to a few showers by the evening.