Photo / 123rfThe parent described Wallace as “vile” and as insignificant as a “tiny grain of sand in a vast ocean”. “All of this trauma, all of this grief came out and I decided to go to the police,” the victim told NZME. “It was calculated, and it was deliberate,” the victim told the court. It is yours,” the victim told Wallace as he bowed his head in the dock. ‘Limited insight’One alcohol and drug clinician described Wallace as having limited insight into his offending.

March 15, 2026 00:34 UTC

It describes a data centre that was built to serve AI technology, through training and inference. AI training involved teaching a model by feeding it datasets to learn patterns, while AI inference was the application of that knowledge. Laurence runs Ten Past Tomorrow, a strategic advisory and AI training company with the aim of increasing AI literacy and capability in New Zealand. Microsoft opened a data centre in Auckland in 2024, while Amazon Web Services (AWS) spent $7.5b building a cluster of data centres in the city. Transpower said it was confident the national grid could meet the energy needs of the new data centre.

March 15, 2026 00:29 UTC

Photo: RNZCommemorations are underway in Christchurch to mark the seventh anniversary of the mosque attacks. A service at the Peace Bell in the botanic gardens started with a minute's silence, followed by the names of the 51 victims. 'Showed the world strength, compassion and unity' - PMIn a post on social media, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to those who lost their lives. "Seven years ago, Christchurch, and New Zealand, showed the world strength, compassion and unity in the face of tragedy. "We honour those who were taken from us by continuing to build a country where everyone can live in peace and safety," the post said.

March 15, 2026 00:27 UTC

Photo: RNZCommemorations are underway in Christchurch to mark the seventh anniversary of the mosque attacks. 'Showed the world strength, compassion and unity' - PMIn a post on social media, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to those who lost their lives. "Today we remember the 51 people who were killed in the Christchurch attacks, and we think of the families, friends, and communities who still live with that loss. "Seven years ago, Christchurch, and New Zealand, showed the world strength, compassion and unity in the face of tragedy. "We honour those who were taken from us by continuing to build a country where everyone can live in peace and safety," the post said.

March 15, 2026 00:26 UTC

State Highway 8 at Lindis Pass is closed following a serious crash this afternoon. In a statement, police said they were called to the two-vehicle crash, near the Lindis Pass viewpoint, at about 12.20pm. Initial indications suggest there are injures, police said. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.

March 15, 2026 00:19 UTC





It comes after Gull service stations across Auckland ran out of petrol this week as motorists took advantage of discount-day deals. Motorists took to social media to vent frustration over fuel pumps running dry. Fears of soaring global oil prices have rocked markets since the start of the Iran war two weeks ago. This has seen prices at the pump for Kiwi motorists surge past the $3-a-litre mark in many areas around the country. “Nobody wants to see fuel companies using the situation in the Middle East as an excuse to unjustifiably increase prices at the pump.

March 15, 2026 00:12 UTC

Braden Jane was captured on CCTV footage walking through the Fork and Tap pub in Arrowtown, where he assaulted a teenager. The incident has come with a warning from the judge that there was too much alcohol-related violence in the tourist town. "There needs to be a message that violence in Queenstown will not be tolerated," the judge said at the hearing. A conviction would likely end in him losing his job, Judge Williams said. Because of his clean record, the risk to his job and the unlikelihood Jane would reoffend, Judge Williams granted the discharge without conviction application.

March 15, 2026 00:04 UTC

Stats NZ will be releasing GDP figures for the December quarter on Thursday, March 19. Our recent pattern with the GDP figures has been very up and down, with large swings from plus to minus growth between quarters. Economists have their views about what might be behind this pattern, and it is clear that our GDP figures have for whatever reason become a lot more 'seasonal' - when of course they are not meant to be. Okay, if we assume the December quarter GDP figures do show slight growth, but slower than the September quarter, what of the current March quarter?. And if the December quarter GDP outcome turns out to be not particularly good, will that cause a knock to confidence and hesitancy with spending?

March 15, 2026 00:03 UTC

The Iranian Mosque in Bur Dubai, built in 1979 for Dubai’s Iranian community, reflects the long history of trade and migration between Dubai and Persia across the Gulf. There is an Iranian hospital, mosque and even community clubs in Dubai, where Persian is often heard on the streets. The extent of ties is partly why Iranians living in the UAE say the last two weeks have been so nightmarish. “It is my dream country being hit by my home country,” said Maryam, 53, who has lived in Dubai since 1984. No one can say this will be different.”Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.

March 14, 2026 23:51 UTC

Education leaders in Northland say the numbers reflect a reality many schools in the region have been dealing with for years. NZ Rural Schools Leadership Association president Andrew King said recruiting new teachers was hard across the board, but particularly difficult for small, rural and isolated schools. “Because you do not necessarily have the same teacher for the whole year and likewise you might constantly have changing teachers. Children need consistency and a professional relationship with a teacher that they have known for a while to optimise learning. “Northland schools and kura, like all schools in New Zealand, are responsible for recruitment of the staff they need.

March 14, 2026 23:48 UTC

But even discussing carless days will be triggering for anyone over the age of 55. For the record, the carless days policy was a disaster. The Government eventually claimed fuel consumption was reduced by 3% during the carless days period. “Oil shock from Iran war grips global economy,” said the banner headline on the New York Times website on Friday. The Iranian revolution, in that year, caused the second oil supply shock of the 1970s.

March 14, 2026 23:33 UTC

But Justice Downs noted that the district court judge had already allowed a 10% discount for Davies’ rehabilitation efforts and another 10% for his addiction to methamphetamine, before adding five months for his extensive criminal history. Those discounts were “careful and considered”, Justice Downs determined at the end of the short hearing, declining to declare the sentence manifestly excessive. Thomas Davies' appeal was heard in the High Court at Auckland. But Justice Downs was not persuaded he had the authority to address the issue. “I apprehend that none of this money is recoverable,” Justice Downs said.

March 14, 2026 23:30 UTC

The Saudi Grand Prix. File photo: ReutersFormula One's Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to the conflict in the Middle East, the sport announced on Saturday. The deadline for freight for the race to be sent to Bahrain was March 20, according to informed sources. Formula Two, Formula Three and the all-female F1 Academy rounds scheduled for the Middle Eastern races will also not go ahead. "Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow."

March 14, 2026 23:29 UTC

England played superbly against France, however, scoring tries through Tom Roebuck, Cadan Murley, Ollie Chessum (2), Alex Coles, Tommy Freeman and Marcus Smith. The match got off to a pulsating start and remained frantic throughout, until Ramos' clinical penalty won it for France. Les Bleus stretched their lead with a Ramos penalty, yet England refused to take the easy points when awarded a penalty inside France’s 22. France gifted England another try just before Genge’s sin-bin time was over as Chessum intercepted a Jalibert pass to race to the line. France have now won eight Six Nations titles, one more than England, and two more than Ireland and Wales.

March 14, 2026 23:29 UTC

A $5 million refurbishment project is planned for Queens Arcade, which connects Customs St (the frontage pictured here) with Queen St. There are also renewed signs of life at the Strand Arcade on Queen St, which has emerged from an unloved, almost derelict state. Barbara Holloway says innovative projects in heritage arcades like the Strand can fill a growing demand for "experiential shopping". Since it opened, Queens Arcade has been owned by the Davis family, who have strong generational links to the city. According to what he’s gleaned, the lineage of the modern shopping arcade dates back to early 19th-century London, where Lord George Cavendish commissioned Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly in 1819.

March 14, 2026 23:00 UTC