Police investigating suspicious fire in central Auckland suburb
NZ Herald Morning News Update | Flooding in Northland, Trump applies Greenland tariff pressure, Tamaki denied access to Harbour Bridge for Destiny Church march. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Police are investigating a suspicious early morning house fire that left one person hospitalised. Fire and Emergency New Zealand was called to the address on Potter Ave in the central Auckland suburb of Wesley about 4am today. Investigations are underway after a suspicious fire was lit in the doorway of a home on Potter Ave in Wesley, Auckland.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 23:57 UTC
A person dies after being hit by vehicle in Haruru, Northland
A person has died after being hit by a vehicle in Northland. A person dies after being hit by vehicle in Haruru, NorthlandA person has died after being hit by a vehicle in Northland. Photo / NZMEA person has died after being struck by a vehicle in Haruru, Northland. A police spokesperson said the pedestrian was hit on Puketona Rd, near the Garden Court intersection, at around 12.10am today. “Sadly, despite emergency services best efforts, the pedestrian died at the scene.”Puketona Rd was closed between Haruru Falls Rd and Te Karuwha Parade while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination, the spokesperson said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 23:33 UTC
Rassie Erasmus posts cryptic message on Tony Brown’s All Blacks speculation
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has posted a cryptic message on social media following speculation linking his assistant Tony Brown with a move to the All Blacks. The rumour mill has been in overdrive in recent days after Scott Robertson stood down as All Blacks coach two years into a four-year contract, following a scathing review that found multiple frailties within the team and reports of player unrest. Jamie Joseph has emerged as the front-runner to replace Robertson, but should he get the job, it’s likely he would want fellow former All Black Brown by his side due to their strong connection. The pair coached the Highlanders to Super Rugby glory in 2015, also coaching Japanese expansion side the Sunwolves and more recently the Japan national team at the 2023 World Cup. Brown is currently contracted to the Springboks through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, meaning New Zealand Rugby (NZR) would need to negotiate him out of a deal to get him, or wait until after the tournament in Australia.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 22:52 UTC
General Debate 18 January 2026
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Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 22:39 UTC
Three Strikes 2.0 was meant to put away the worst criminals. So far it has barely been used
A slower strike rate under version 2.0 is not surprising because the process takes longer before a strike is imposed, compared with version 1.0. So why is version 2.0 being used so minimally? Three Strikes 2.0 is working as intended,” McKee said. To avoid this, the Government initially announced a 24-month sentencing threshold for each strike offence under version 2.0, though this was shorter than what officials had recommended. The strikes under 1.0 with long-enough sentences have been “reactivated” for version 2.0.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 22:32 UTC
Back to school costs: The real price of your child’s education
Interviews and information from schools show parents of a student starting Year 9 in Auckland can expect to pay thousands to get them set up for high school. Supporting studentsThe MSD’s School Education Costs financial programme allows eligible people to receive payments covering immediate or essential costs. These could be used to pay for school uniforms, stationery and childcare costs, said MSD’s client service delivery general manager Graham Allpress. Allpress encouraged anyone struggling with school costs to contact MSD. She has high praise for her son’s primary school, Panmure Bridge, which she said had gone “above and beyond” for them.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 21:31 UTC
Whangārei Buddhist statues: Environment Court backs consent deal at coastal property
In that decision, the commissioner noted a different outcome could have potential if upper terraces were removed and some statues moved further down the embankment. Yang appealed the decision to the Environment Court and the two parties went to mediation, where they reached an agreement. Under the agreement, the number of statues is to be reduced from 147 to 128, and the upper terraces will be removed within three months. In December, Environment Court Judge Jeff Smith accepted the agreement and issued a consent order under the Resource Management Act. Photo / Environment Court, Sanson and Associates, Simon Cocker landscape architectureThe consent has a 12-month clause in which the council will review conditions if unforeseen landscape or visual effects arise.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 21:30 UTC
Israel objects to line-up of Trump panel for post-war Gaza
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which is subordinate to the Board of Peace, was not co-ordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was “studying” a request for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to join. Trump himself said last year that he wanted to make sure Blair was an “acceptable choice to everybody”. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad criticised the composition of the Board of Peace, saying it served Israel’s interests. Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath was earlier tapped to head the governing committee.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 21:21 UTC
Warning after sewage leak into Wellington harbour
The Seaview treatment plant. Photo / RNZ / Krystal GibbensBy RNZA warning has been issued after a sewage leak in Wellington. Wellington Water said partially treated wastewater was released into the ocean after a mechanical failure at the Seaview treatment plant at around 6pm on Saturday. It said the water near the leak may look cloudy and could smell. People are advised to avoid the water near Pencarrow.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 21:13 UTC
Trump bought US$1m in Netflix, Warner Bros bonds after merger announcement
“When they have Warner Bros, that share goes up a lot. But they have a very big market share.”The next day, Paramount Skydance, an unsuccessful bidder in the blitz to buy Warner Bros Discovery, launched a hostile bid to buy the company. Paramount Skydance is run by David Ellison, the son of Trump ally Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle. Paramount Skydance declined to comment. Spokespeople for Warner Bros Discovery and the Trump Organisation did not respond to requests for comment.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 20:39 UTC
Pastures Past: Historic rural homesteads that succumbed to fire
The homestead was a wooden building consisting of 22 rooms, part being old and a considerable portion new. The building was insured for £9OO in the British Traders’ Office, and the furniture and effects for £5OO in the Victoria Office. Fire destroys well-known homesteadHawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune, July 31, 1941Fire destroyed the well-known homestead on Te Aute Station near Pukehou early this week. The homestead was also insured, but many personal effects gathered by the family of the owners are irreplaceable. It was an eight-roomed wooden building and was a sod building, the original portion being about 80 years old.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 20:33 UTC
Lotto ‘must be won’ Strike prize shared by 118 players
A total of 118 Lotto players are sharing the spoils after Saturday night’s ‘must be won’ $1.5 million Strike prize was split among multiple winners. Each of the 118 players will receive $13,457 after no single ticket claimed the full Strike prize. The winning Lotto numbers were 22, 31, 33, 23, 11 and 36, with the bonus ball 24 and Powerball number 9, as reported by Stuff. The $4 million Powerball jackpot was not won, pushing Wednesday night’s prize pool up to $5 million. The winning tickets were purchased at Whitcoulls New Plymouth, Miramar Lotto and Gift Shop in Wellington, and Pak’nSave Moorhouse in Christchurch, Stuff has reported.
Source:Stuff
January 17, 2026 20:09 UTC
Declassified: NZSIS spies release Rainbow Warrior documents, including David Lange’s secret wish
The documents were sought as part of research into the Herald’s Rainbow Warrior podcast - A Forgotten History - but have only recently been made available by the NZSIS. The attack killed photographer Fernando Pereira, leading to a murder investigation and the arrest of Mafart and Prieur just days later. Image created for the podcast Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History. A police photo of the Rainbow Warrior at Marsden Wharf. The Service had urged police to focus closely on the Rainbow Warrior ahead of the bomb going off.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 19:03 UTC
Doctor Askar delivers $500k win for Joe Doyle as parents watch at Trentham
“What a super horse,” he said. “My mum and dad are here today, so it was nice to ride a big winner in front of them. “We are horse racing people to the bone and it means everything to us. “I just said to Joe, ‘he has done really well, he has eaten every day, he is working well, I have done my job’. “There is more in him in handicaps at this stage and I am hoping he can progress to weight-for-age level.”– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 19:02 UTC
Weather: Parts of Northland flooded with more heavy rain on the way
The Whangaruru North Residents and Ratepayers Association said Tūparehuia Marae has been opened for people needing shelter. In Helena Bay, Liv Patu said there had been torrential rain most of the night. The Whangārei District Council confirmed Ngunguru, Helena Bay, Ōakura, Punaruku and Whangaruru have been cut off by flooding. On the roads, the Ngaiotonga Bridge has washed out by the turn off to Bland Bay and Whangaruru North Rd. Motorist Amy Tipene said floodwaters were rising at Scows Landing on Ngunguru Rd, with the river breaking its bank.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 18:57 UTC