Trump floated the idea last year before the Supreme Court heard arguments on his tariff policy but changed his mind. Though he was a silent observer inside the courtroom, Trump’s mere presence in the public gallery signalled the primacy of his executive order on birthright citizenship to his second-term agenda. “The executive order plus his presence was clear messaging about the primacy of it and his world view,” she said. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by the summer. “We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!” Trump posted on Truth Social at 12.20pm, after returning to the White House.

Western Sydney’s new airport is emerging as a fresh battleground for carriers looking to tap into population growth and demand outside the traditional Sydney gateway, and Air New Zealand is moving quickly after another major airline first revealed plans to sell tickets from the hub. The move highlights how airlines are treating the airport as a strategic play, not just an overflow option as they look to lock in customer loyalty early. To start with, Air New Zealand plans to run three return services a week using its international narrowbody jets, alternating between A321 and A320 aircraft depending on demand and scheduling. These planes are set up in an all-economy layout with either 214 or 165 seats, which keeps things simple operationally while maximising capacity, and flights are scheduled to leave Auckland around 6.05am local time and reach Western Sydney just before 8.00am AEST, making the timing practical for business and same-day connections. This early move looks likely to accelerate competition for international services at Western Sydney, giving local travellers more options while nudging rivals to firm up their own plans sooner than expected.

A declaration has been formally signed in Rarotonga today, by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Photo / Azaria HowellPeters has been on Brown’s home turf for relationship-mending discussions, as memories of the Cook Islands’ deal with China loom in the shadows and scars start to heal. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is met by Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. The relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands suffered significantly after the country, which is in free association with New Zealand, signed a deal with China without significant consultation. Further details on the formal agreements between China and the Cook Islands were released by the Office of the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands on February 21, 2025.

Police are investigating an unexplained death in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, after a person was found dead on Wainuiomata Road this morning. Cordons are in place on the road between Reading St and The Strand, with emergency services still at the scene. Police are working to determine the circumstances around what occurred and are urging the public to avoid the area.

The court heard the man gave conflicting evidence to the report writers, unable to say if the alleged abuse occurred in New Zealand or overseas. If they agreed to his demands, he’d reward them with time on a cellphone, urging them not to tell anyone. As a result of the offending, he’d lost his family support, and his sisters were no longer returning his calls, she said. “I am reluctant to make any discount for you being a victim of prior sexual abuse, the evidence in this case is not sufficient to warrant a reduction, she said. Taking the aggravating and mitigating factors into account, the judge imposed a final sentence of 10-and-a-half years’ jail.

Photo: Supplied/Te Whare Wānanga o AwanuiārangiTe Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is moving some of their noho and on-campus classes online in response to concerns from tauira (students) that rising fuel prices would impact their ability to attend classes. The majority of students are located out in the regions and will come together for noho wānanga anywhere from every four weeks to every eight weeks, he said. "We've made a decision to shift two noho scheduled to occur last week and this week to online, and it was largely at the request of students. Auckland university students have launched a petition calling for free public transport and financial support, saying fuel prices are impacting university students disproportionately. Photo: Supplied/Te Whare Wānanga o AwanuiārangiLessons from CovidDoherty said the Wānanga learned a few lessons from the Covid pandemic about delivering courses online, one of them being that "the world wasn't going to end if you deliver things online."

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Fire crews responded to a strong smell of petrol at the Woolworths Ponsonby supermarket in Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn. Photo / Oliver RusdenFire crews responded to a strong smell of petrol at the Woolworths Ponsonby supermarket in Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn. Photo / Oliver RusdenA central Auckland carpark has been cleared as a fire and emergency hazmat unit has responded to a strong smell of petrol at a supermarket. One witness said Woolworths Ponsonby “reeked of petrol”, similar to a petrol station but stronger. A queue had formed at the base of the escalator down to the carpark at the store, but “everyone seemed quite relaxed”, the witness said.

Two Dunedin primary school boys who went missing today have been found, the school says. Wakari Primary School put up a Facebook post this afternoon which said "We have 2 young boys missing". The school asked anyone who had seen the boys, who are aged 7 and 8, to contact police. A separate post described the boys' hair colour and what they were wearing. in an update just before 5pm the school posted that the boys had been found, and gave "thanks to all that have searched.

Photo: Getty ImagesThe relaxing of alcohol restrictions on public holidays has cleared the last legislative hurdle and will come into force in time for Easter weekend. The member's bill that allows premises that are already open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning, and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions received Royal Assent today. Bottle shops will still have to stay closed and supermarket alcohol restrictions remain. "This is a practical fix that removes confusion and inconsistency between alcohol laws and shop trading restrictions. "It also removes outdated requirements at restaurants and cafes for customers to order a 'substantial meal', and restrictions preventing alcohol from being served more than an hour before or after eating."

Police later located the gun, confirmed to be a plastic imitation gel blaster. A second blaster was found in a backpack belonging to one of the youths, along with a small amount of cannabis. It was revealed the group had pointed the imitation firearms at two other members of the public, as well as the bus driver. A 38-year-old man responsible was located and taken into custody, later arrested for breaching his release conditions. The group was taken to Ormiston Police Station where they were spoken to before being released.

Former Auckland executive Greg Hornblow was convicted of receiving "commercial sexual services" from a person aged under 18. Photo: Finn BlackwellA former Auckland executive who was convicted of receiving "commercial sexual services" from a person aged under 18 can now be named. The victim asked for UberEats, which the executive provided in exchange for intimate photos and videos of the girl, Judge Maxwell said. He paid $1000 to the teen to come to his house, where the two engaged in unspecified sexual activity in his bedroom, Judge Maxwell said. Under the Prostitution Reform Act, no one under the age of 18 may be contracted for commercial sexual services.

Photo: Julie AsherEmergency services are at the scene of a serious crash where a car has gone over a bank near Ettrick. Police were notified of a single vehicle crash in Moa Flat Rd about 11.20am today. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said crews were alerted by police after reports of a car over a cliff. Roxburgh and Millers Flat brigades attended to the scene near Ettrick and found a car over a bank. Police were also called around 1.10pm to a single vehicle crash on Rongahere Road near Beaumont.

“Just because something’s always been that way doesn’t mean that that’s a good reason to keep it,” he said. If the bill passes, it is possible it may receive royal assent on Thursday, in time for Good Friday. Luxton’s own member’s bill to repeal alcohol restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday was voted down at first reading in 2024. That bill would have repealed Good Friday and Easter Sunday as restricted trading days altogether. Once again we make it easier to access alcohol on the couple of days where there are some restrictions around it.

A former business executive who admitted receiving commercial sex services from an underage girl can now be named. The man, who was ordered to serve 10 months’ home detention in March, is former OneRoof chief Greg Hornblow. In a statement after suppression lifted, NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said the company had been “appalled to learn of the serious charge against former NZME employee Greg Hornblow”. Between September 3 and 17 last year, the girl sent Hornblow 12 images and 19 short videos. A disciplinary, unpaid stand-down period was imposed on Greg Hornblow along with a range of other punitive conditions he was required to meet.