Glenn McConnell reports on the battle for Mt Albert. His latest attempt to provide insight into my city and its political machinations is as credible as RNZ’s Russian propaganda. Before I go romper stomper on Glenn, let me be very clear that I was the ONLY pundit last election who predicted correctly that Chloe would win Auckland Central. Now I think Mt Albert Labour Candidate Helen White is possibly the most smug candidate Labour has, remember her Finn Hogan interview during the 2020 election? Helen will win Mt Albert by a huge margin.

Roasting the pumpkin here adds a great depth of flavour. This is a good dish to pre-make and have ready to bake just before eating. It can be a little messy stuffing the cannelloni tubes, but practice makes perfect.

Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora urged Kiwis to vaccinate and be prepared to avoid overloading health system. Video / Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai OraWith winter flu season in full swing and Covid still claiming lives, Kiwis are urged to vaccinate, grab their prescriptions early and choose the right medical service when sick. Health officials say it’s important to avoid overloading the health system as the busy winter period kicks in. There have also been babies dying from whooping cough in New Zealand this year as low child immunisation rates cause concern. Kiwis feeling seriously unwell or their child is very sick should also visit the emergency department, which is open 24/7, health teams said.

Hannah Peters/Getty ImagesWho was recently appointed to join the All Blacks and Black Ferns as performance coach?

For the second time in two weeks, the National Party appeared to be rearranging its policies in an effort to stop itself from being outflanked by a resurgent Act Party. The Act Party has been consistently polling above 10% since July last year and has been above 13% in some individual polls. To achieve this goal, it has been courting traditional National Party voters in rural communities and wealthy suburbs. Before that was announced, Hoggard had played a leading role in negotiations around He Waka Eke Noa — which the Act Party outright opposes. Seymour said his party would not accept a coalition deal that handed out ministerial roles but didn’t adopt Act Party policies.

By Hanna McCallum ofPhoto: Supplied / Traffic Updates Horowhenua Kapiti WellingtonDeveloper Ian Cassels has called a huge blaze that destroyed a landmark building at Wellington's Shelly Bay "a shameful waste" that has set back his $500m development of the area. The site has been handed over to the Wellington City Council. Significant investment had gone into architectural plans, landscape plans, urban design plans, and engineering, he said. The loss of any heritage materials that could have been reused was a "shameful waste, for all of Wellington", Cassels said. A 525-day occupation at Shelly Bay started after the Council agreed to sell and lease its land there to developers.

"Current data indicates 0.2 percent of the workforce in public service departments and departmental agencies received performance pay in 2022," the Public Service Commission told RNZ. Eighteen bonuses went to staffers earning $149,000-$215,000. "In general, ACC does not pay bonuses to staff," its annual review said. In the core public service, bonuses have disappeared at Justice, Education, the Ministry of Transport, Oranga Tamariki, Health and the Public Service Commission and doubtless others, too. The 2018 directive from the PSC - that "employers will work toward removing at-risk pay and performance bonuses from pay policies and employment agreements" - has definitely had an impact.

The Independent Electoral Review out today has included a recommendation to ‘affect the Treaty of Waitangi andPrinciples’ and make it one of the Act’s ‘explicit objectives’. What ‘principles’ are they talking about exactly? Our Electoral Act is the foundation of unwavering equality for every New Zealander

A chill wind has blown through the auction rooms, with the number of residential properties going under the hammer at the latest auctions (3-9 June) dropping to 157. That's down from 185 the previous week and 192 the week before that. However while fewer properties were offered at the latest auctions, there was almost no change in the number that sold, with 63 selling under the hammer at the latest auctions, almost unchanged from 64 the previous week. That pushed the latest sales rate up to 40% from 35% the previous week. The details of the individual properties offered at all of the auctions monitored by interest.co.nz, including the selling prices and rating valuations of those that sold, are available on our Residential Auction Results page.

From the private collection of legendary Green Beret and Delta Force operator Geo Hand. This is a pic of Delta’s Sam B.Foster (left, RIP) and an unnamed operator (right) from the 22nd SAS Regiment. The photograph was taken in Hereford, England.

Because when you adopt a second pet you're allowing both animals to form their own bond independent of you. Please email me your own pet photos, or message me via the Four Legs Good Facebook page. Help keep Furry Friday free of embarrassing mistakes by remembering to include your pet's name, and its sex if it's not obvious! A muddle of muzzles: Maggie and Kali (left) and Macy and Celtic snuggle as close as caninely possible. Becket makes her second appearance on Furry Friday, this time with her brother, follower and protector Castle.

Photo: NZ HeraldA person is in hospital with serious injuries after their car was hit by another driven by a person fleeing police in Christchurch this morning. Canterbury Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd said a driver failed to stop for officers when signalled to on Cranford St about 9am, and fled the scene. An occupant of that vehicle received serious injuries and was taken to Christchurch Hospital. Police arrested the offending driver - a 28-year-old man - and seized a firearm found in his vehicle. The road was closed while Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination, and inquiries are ongoing.

United Nations published this video item, entitled “Jason Momoa message on World Oceans Day 2023 | United Nations” – below is their description. In a recorded message from New Zealand, actor and ocean activist Jason Momoa said, “the human induced triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss continues to weigh heavily on the ocean ecosystems and the communities that directly depend on it. I’m honored to be joining the United Nations family World Oceans Day. Celebrate how wonderful it is to live our blue planet and underscore the importance of prioritizing the oceans help, our own health.”World Ocean Day is celebrated worldwide on 8 June Every Year. United Nations YouTube Channel

New Zealand Cricket Team head coach Gary Stead confirmed on Thursday, that their star new ball pacer Trent Boult will be available to play the ODI World Cup later this year in India. Trent Boult was an important member of New Zealand’s squad in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup as he bowled brilliantly well for the Blackcaps with the new ball. His performance with the ball helped the Kiwis make back-to-back appearances in the grand final and is the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in World Cup with 39 wickets in 19 games so far. “Of course, (I am) desperate to play in the ODI World Cup – it is one of the biggest events on the calendar. Currently, my sole focus is on the IPL here at the moment and if things work out (well) I am 100 per cent I want to be there (in the World Cup),” Trent Boult said.

Not surprisingly given how much they've risen over the past 18-months or so, a growing number of New Zealanders are worried about interest rates, market research company Roy Morgan says. In the year to June 2021 just over a third of New Zealanders, or 34.6%, were worried about interest rates, Roy Morgan says. “Now nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders who are paying off their home, 63.3%, say they are ‘worried about interest rates at the moment’ – up from a low of only 21.6% in March 2021. With most New Zealand mortgage borrowers choosing fixed-term, rather than floating, mortgage rates, the impact of higher rates is still flowing through to borrowers' finances. % of New Zealanders who agree “I’m worried about interest rates at the moment”% of New Zealanders who agree “I’m worried about interest rates at the moment” by housing category