One of the world’s most impressive fighter jets has been confirmed for its first visit to New Zealand for Warbirds Over Wanaka this Easter. Event general manager Ed Taylor said having the USAF F-22 Raptor Demo Team performing on all three days of the airshow was a real coup. Warbirds over Wanaka general manager Ed Taylor is over the moon about the USAF F-22 Raptor Demo Team taking part in this year’s show over Easter weekend. Two Raptors would make the trip to New Zealand and would operate out of Christchurch International Airport, he said. Only 183 Raptors have been built since they first entered service in 2005, a statement from the airshow said.

Paul Neumann was sentenced to three and a-half months’ imprisonment after breaching his community detention and extended supervision order. Photo: Stephen JaquieryA high-risk Dunedin child sex offender has been locked up for repeatedly ignoring court orders. Paul Thomas Neumann, 64, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to breaching community detention and breaching his extended supervision order (ESO). His community detention curfew hours were designed to keep him home during periods when young people would likely be out (7.30am-10am and 1pm-6pm on weekdays and 9am-6pm on weekends). Judge Robinson sentenced Neumann to three and a-half months’ imprisonment.

Rising Otago star Hugo Bogue is showing promising signs ahead of the under-19 world cup. Bogue thrashed a rapid century to guide the Baby Black Caps to a 114-run win over Zimbabwe in a warm-up game in Masvingo, the city in southeastern Zimbabwe formerly known as Fort Victoria, yesterday. Brendon Senzere made an unbeaten 66 in reply but Zimbabwe were never in the hunt, after losing early wickets. Bogue scored 34 off 29 balls and Jones cracked 50 off 48 in New Zealand’s loss to England in their first warm-up game. New Zealand’s first game at the under-19 world cup is against the United States on Sunday.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll told a mother appearing in Christchurch District Court she needed to learn different strategies so she didn't take her frustrations out on her son. Photo / 123rfJudge Stephen O’Driscoll told a mother appearing in Christchurch District Court she needed to learn different strategies so she didn't take her frustrations out on her son. Photo / 123rfA mother who pushed and then slapped her 3-year-old autistic son in the head was too drunk to comment when confronted about her actions. And while there were no visible injuries, today the single mother was told she needs to learn different strategies so she doesn’t take her frustrations out on her son, who is still living with her. “It is not easy to bring up children by yourself but the use of violence is inappropriate,” Judge Stephen O’Driscoll told her in the Christchurch District Court.

Barry has fronted Seven Sharp since 2018 and co-hosts the 7pm broadcast with Jeremy Wells. Seven Sharp host Hilary Barry finds mould growing in coffee cup after return to workBarry has fronted Seven Sharp since 2018 and co-hosts the 7pm broadcast with Jeremy Wells. Seven Sharp presenter Hilary Barry has made an unwholesome discovery after her return to the TVNZ offices after the summer break. Barry shared a photo on her Facebook page showing a coffee cup with thick mould spots growing in the liquid at the bottom. Seven Sharp host Hilary Barry found mould at the bottom of a coffee cup after her return from a summer break.

A large black coral believed to be centuries old is one of the largest ever found in the waters of New Zealand, researchers say. "It's by far the largest black coral I've seen in my 25 years as a marine biologist. Despite its name, the black coral was white in colour and only its skeleton was black. Senior biodiversity ranger Richard Kinsey said seeing the large coral looming out of the darkness was "pretty special". Victoria University researchers were working alongside DOC and the Fiordland Marine Guardians to study and map the distribution of protected coral species in the fiords.

Judge Snell noted the company’s upfront payment of $65,000 to the whānau, in recognition of the emotional harm done, which negated the need for court-ordered reparation. Judge Snell said the bridge was not well lit, which meant Puata was unable to make basic observations. The person who found him alerted the ship’s medic, but he could not be saved, Judge Snell said. The best he could have offered was palliative care to “make his passing more peaceful”, Judge Snell said. Judge Tony Snell Judge Snell noted the company’s upfront payment of $65,000 to the whānau, in recognition of the emotional harm done.

The Department of Conservation says the slip has made the Rees-Dart Track circuit impassable for trampers. Photo: DocA popular southern tramping track is closed indefinitely after a large slip affected the route. The Department of Conservation (Doc) has advised of the slip on the Dart Track, which is often done as a circuit with the Rees Track. Doc said the slip, in the Dart Valley between Daleys Flat Hut and Chinamans Bluff, had made the Rees-Dart circuit "impassable" for trampers. "Rangers have assessed the slip and the Dart Track is closed indefinitely."

Invitation-only“The pilot is being run through the Regional Business Partner Network for existing customers at present,” a spokeswoman for Penk said. “From next Monday, RPB providers will send out invitations to businesses currently working with growth advisers. “As these businesses have a relationship and history with their RBP provider, for the sake of a pilot this will allow for better benchmarking around digital capability and confidence using AI tools.”Advisers in the network will help small businesses implement their AI plans. The MBIE-funded Regional Business Partner Network worked with 15 organisations nationwide, typically the local chamber of commerce. “It’s positive that they’re going to be measuring productivity gains to evaluate the pilot,” he added.

Venezuela, meanwhile, announced it had freed 116 more people jailed under Maduro – many for taking part in protests after his disputed 2024 election. Rights groups questioned the numbers, and family members clamoured for speedier releases promised by Caracas under pressure from Washington. Relatives have been camped out at prisons for days, growing increasingly restless as loved ones have failed to appear. On Sunday, Trump said he was open to a meeting with Rodriguez and that his administration was working “really well” with hers. The opposition and much of the international community consider Urrutia the legitimate victor of Venezuela’s last presidential election.

“The main businesses on Station Rd are quite happy with that,” Evans said. Photo / Mike ScottThe road closures for large concerts held at Go Media had long been a bugbear for retailers. The early laying of traffic cones indicated to potential customers the area was a no-go zone, causing them to turn away – meaning even a 3pm road closure impacts business. “But it was a real haphazard way of going about it.”Auckland Stadiums, which runs events at Go Media Stadium, recognised the disruption an event of the scale of an Ed Sheeran concert can cause. Ed Sheeran is performing two shows at Go Media Stadium as part of the New Zealand leg of his tour.

One man climbed up to erect a pre-Revolution Iranian flag, but this was removed by someone from inside the embassy. At least 10 police officers have been keeping access to the road open on the narrow road in the Wellington suburb of Hataitai as the protest continues. The protests began over rampant inflation but have since spread across the country and had become general protests against the regime. The flow of information outside of Iran had been constrained since authorities cut off internet access and telephone lines on Thursday. US President Donald Trump was also briefed on potential military intervention options, including military strikes and sanctions.

“We haven’t seen much growth in the last two years, but we are expecting growth in the next 12 months. The Ipsos Issues Monitor, which records the biggest issues for New Zealand voters, is pretty clear right now that health is the second-biggest issue. It will be interesting to see if, given it’s an election year, he will attend Waitangi celebrations,” he said. Listen to the full episode to hear more about:Coalition tensionsWhere minor parties standPolls, blocs, and leadershipPredictions for politics in 2026. The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am.

The mayor of Minneapolis says Donald Trump is targeting Minnesota for his immigration crackdown because of its Democratic leadership. Photo / Getty ImagesThe mayor of Minneapolis says Donald Trump is targeting Minnesota for his immigration crackdown because of its Democratic leadership. Photo / Getty ImagesThe US state of Minnesota sued the Trump administration on Monday over the immigration crackdown that saw a woman protester fatally shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis last week. Minnesota Attorney-General Keith Ellison, who announced the lawsuit, said the Department of Homeland Security’s surge of immigration officers into the Democratic-led northern state in recent days has “made us less safe”. “This is, in essence, a federal invasion.”Jacob Frey, the mayor of Minneapolis, where 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Wednesday, said Republican President Donald Trump was targeting Minnesota for his immigration crackdown because of its Democratic leadership.

Skippers Bridge PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA Queenstown tourism operator is calling on the council to prioritise reopening the historic Skippers Bridge. Nomad Safaris business manager Harald Ulriksen said Skippers Canyon was "an iconic part of what we do". Mr Ulriksen said the company was "disappointed" to hear about the bridge’s indefinite closure, but encouraged the council to "prioritise repairs". "We welcome any discussions on how businesses and the Queenstown community can support reopening Skippers Bridge," he said. Late last year, "failures of the wires in the cables used to suspend Skippers Bridge in place" were detected, meaning the council had been unable to safely assess what load the bridge could support and its integrity.