Bitter, 10-year divorce case thrown out of court, judge cites ‘need for finality’
Lawson alleged Goff had removed about $2.3 million of relationship property, with a net loss to the relationship property pool of about $1.3m. The appeal judge rejected most of Lawson’s points but ruled in her favour on some. She has had many opportunities to make her case and has been allowed to advance arguments late and/or has failed to properly focus her case, in the Family Court and in this court. The Family Court “clearly needs a total overhaul” on this point. “Things are never black and white ... the Family Court is full of shades of grey.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 21:31 UTC
Family battles ACC over claim acne drug gave teen severe OCD
John has spent the past nine years fighting ACC for cover for his son, who he claims developed severe OCD after taking the acne medication Oratane. The acne medication Oratane – also known as Isotretinoin – is being blamed for causing the boy's OCD. Mansfield’s argument is that the acne drug damaged Harry’s brain in a single event and he was, in essence, accidentally injured by it and should be provided state-funded care. Hugo Wilkinson's parents believed his depression was caused by the acne drug Roaccutane. To prove the third instance, a person has to prove their mental injury has been materially caused by a physical injury of some kind.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 10, 2026 20:42 UTC
Beating the back-to-work blues, inboxes, passwords and all
Then the first morning back arrives, and the alarm erupts like a volcano you had forgotten was still active. The short version, where someone says: “Hope everyone had a good break. Here is what we need to do.”Or the long version, where everyone is asked to share their holiday highlights. The worst is when someone says “long story short” only to make a short story long. Work-you runs on systems, deadlines and the mysterious ability to look busy while rebooting your computer for the 10th time.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 20:36 UTC
MEDIAWATCH: Alt-right Canadian Billionaire’s Far Right Free Speech Fascist Pet keeps getting platformed by NZ Herald
Alt-right Canadian Billionaire’s Far Right Free Speech Fascist Pet says what now? Why does this Free Speech Crypto-Fascist keep getting platformed by the bloody NZ Herald? Because Ayling is the Far Right Free Speech Fascist Pet of Jim Grenon, our new Alt-right Canadian Billionaire Media Overlord. Junk Sophistry like this deserves naked contempt, so let’s do that using as much free speech as we can. Western Values were sharpened and battle tested in countless schisms between Catholic and Protestant, Tory and Whig, King and subjects.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 20:27 UTC
Tourist dies at Palm Beach on Gold Coast after being swept out to sea
The man drowned at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. Photo / Dan Peled, NewsWireTourist dies at Palm Beach on Gold Coast after being swept out to seaThe man drowned at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. Photo / Dan Peled, NewsWireA tourist was unable to be resuscitated after he was pulled from the water on the Gold Coast. The man, aged in his 30s and from overseas, was swept out while swimming at Palm Beach shortly after 4pm on Saturday (local time). The tragedy unfolded at the popular swimming spot as temperatures on the Gold Coast reached 28C on Saturday.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 19:35 UTC
Waikato River search continues for missing swimmer after water tragedies
A day of water tragediesThe incidents occurred in Canterbury, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Mahurangi East, north of Auckland. Another person is in a serious condition after being pulled from the water in Tasman District. Police were notified about 1.15pm that a person had been pulled from the water by the harbourmaster at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula. The death will be referred to the coroner.”Water safety adviceWater Safety New Zealand chief executive, Glen Scanlon, urged people to keep in mind the key messages around water safety at this busy time. He advised Kiwis to never swim or dive alone in any of New Zealand’s water environments.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 19:26 UTC
What not to spend money on in 2026 if you want to get ahead – Diana Clement
No one needs a new Tesla, and many double-cab ute buyers don’t need them for work. None of these is bad individually, if they’re budgeted for and there is money for food and other essentials. • Keep your fun money, or any of those categories above, in a separate account with no overdraft. Stop scrolling, stop buying, stop convincing yourself that you “deserve” it right now or “need” it. Catch up on the debates that dominated the week by signing up to our Opinion newsletter – a weekly round-up of our best commentary.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 19:03 UTC
Methodist Church launches probe into whistleblower claims of exorcism rituals at Wesley College
Wesley College says there is "no place" for such practices at the school and the Methodist Church has launched an independent investigation. It’s claimed he showed a video of himself performing a chanting ceremony on a young village girl to at least one Wesley College student and staff member. Wesley College did not respond directly to the specific allegations outlined above. It's alleged students were taught to "speak in tongues" as part of the unsanctioned Pentecostal-like rituals held at Wesley College. In fairness it is not appropriate to say any more.”A staff member is allegedly seen "laying hands" on a Wesley College student during one of the ceremonies.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 18:37 UTC
Weather: Temperatures set to soar, heat records likely to be broken
Fifteen heat alerts have been issued across New Zealand as the sizzling temperatures ramp up. Heat alerts are in place for Kerikeri, Whangārei, Whitianga, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Rotorua and Taupō. Heat alerts are also in place for Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Motueka, Blenheim, Kaikōura, Christchurch and Timaru. Strong wind watches are also in place for eastern Canterbury and the lower South Island. Further north, there are heavy rain watches across the Grey and Buller districts in the upper South Island this afternoon and evening.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 17:53 UTC
Classic 1939 Ford flathead V8 truck: From coalfields workhorse to showpiece
Bryan’s parents had Valiants, a Ford flathead truck and a Bedford truck. Bryan’s Ford flathead truck was bought from Brown Bros (NZ) Ltd in 2013. Bryan Southall has owned his 1939 Ford flathead V8 truck since 2013. Bryan Southall prefers to keep as much of his Ford flathead truck in original condition only restoring where he needs to. Once he has done necessary restoration work, Bryan and his wife Viv will take their Ford flathead truck to truck shows.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 17:36 UTC
Media Insider: From heartbreak emerges an enduring media legacy – Globox digital billboard firm acquired by Lumo
The rise of Globox into a significant regional media business is reflected in the news today that it has been acquired by Auckland-based outdoor advertising firm Lumo. The first of their Globox digital billboards went live in 2018. After the initial Covid lockdowns, the Globox business started soaring in 2022 and 2023, Sally Nicholson says. It has been a strong start to the year for the outdoor advertising industry, with revenue up 16% year on year. Meanwhile, Clemas and Harrison said Lumo had decided it would not seek any slice of the lucrative Auckland Transport outdoor advertising contracts.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 17:35 UTC
Kiwi sex worker Rose Adamo reveals all – how much money she makes, what she will and won’t do for clients
Do your family know what you do for a living? I didn’t tell them for a long time; most of my family know except my grandmother. You usually figure out within the first 18 months whether sex work is the right path – some girls leave after six months. Rose Adamo says men enjoy sex before they start work, during their lunch breaks and after work to avoid sitting in traffic. Rose Adamo says it helps to be mature and you need to be mentally strong to be a sex worker.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 17:34 UTC
The business of ‘stuff’: How inheritance is fuelling storage and decluttering businesses
Kennards is another of the key players in the New Zealand market alongside National Storage and Storage King. Open spaces at National Mini Storage are available for storage of a car, boat or RV for $445 a month. “Australia’s self storage market is expanding more rapidly due to its size, population dynamics and depth of new development activity. So they become what we call the family storage unit. We ask them: ‘Are you the family storage unit at the moment?
Source:Stuff
January 10, 2026 17:28 UTC
Manage My Health data could be used to breach bank accounts
Manage My Health insists it encrypted health data in its database and user passwords. Photo: RNZAn information technology expert warns the Manage My Health data breach may make victims vulnerable to bank account theft. About 125,000 Manage My Health users have been affected by a massive data breach, with hackers stealing hundreds of thousands of medical files. Cybersecurity and operational technology expert Dr Abhinav Chopra told RNZ the information contained in the breach, like health and personally identifiable data, could be used to access bank accounts. On Friday, Manage My Health said it encrypted health data in its database and user passwords.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 10, 2026 16:30 UTC
Nine-year fight for cover: Family claim acne drug gave teen severe OCD
The acne medication Oratane – also known as Isotretinoin – is being blamed for causing the boy's OCD. Even though his dosage was reduced, his symptoms persisted and he stopped taking the drug a month later. “Physical changes to the brain that cause harm are a physical injury. Bremner said OCD was caused by changes in the brain, often due to physical injury, and provided pages of his own research to support his claims. To prove the third instance, a person has to prove their mental injury has been materially caused by a physical injury of some kind.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 10, 2026 16:04 UTC