State Highway 8 crash Tekapo: Road closed after serious injuries
NZ Herald Morning News Update | US forces capture Venezuela's leader and managers of Swiss Bar placed under criminal investigation. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Rescue helicopters are responding to a serious four-vehicle crash west of Tekapo this evening. The crash happened about 7pm on State Highway 8 between Tekapo Powerhouse Road and Braemar Road. Reports indicate that three people have serious injuries, while another person has moderate injuries.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 08:48 UTC
State Highway 4 in Waitomo closes after truck rolls, delays expected
State Highway 4 in Waikato is closed after a single truck crash. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. State Highway 4 in Waitomo closes after truck rolls, delays expectedState Highway 4 in Waikato is closed after a single truck crash. State Highway 4 near the Waitomo town of Aria is closed after a truck rolled on the Waikato highway. Diversions are in place at Kopaki Rd and Mangaiti Rd and motorists are urged to take alternative routes and expect significant delays.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 08:44 UTC
Finley Melville Ives continues Winter Olympics preparation with halfpipe World Cup podium in Canada
Finley Melville Ives in action in Canada. Photo / SuppliedTeenage freestyle skier Finley Melville Ives has continued his strong form ahead of next month’s Winter Olympics with his second World Cup podium of the season. The Wānaka 19-year-old finished second at the FIS Halfpipe World Cup Tour at Canada’s Calgary Olympic Park with a best score of 92.20. “I’m so stoked, I can’t believe it,” Melville Ives said. “It’s been an incredible start to the World Cup season.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 08:32 UTC
General Debate 04 January 2026
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Source:Stuff
January 04, 2026 07:29 UTC
Trump’s Venezuela move pushes the limits of his ‘America First’ doctrine
Asked how taking control of a South American country was “America First”, Trump told reporters it is because he wanted to “surround” America with “good neighbours” and “stability”. “We have tremendous energy in that country,” Trump said. Maga-aligned pollster Rich Baris warned that any brief “rally around the flag” effect from Trump’s announcement would fade if the Venezuela mission expanded. He has tied military action in Latin America to his top domestic priorities of reducing immigration and stopping the flow of drugs into the US. Today, he left the door open to further military action against the leaders of Cuba and Colombia, who have also opposed Trump and his policies.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 05:56 UTC
Billy Joel makes surprise performance after health diagnosis
Piano Man singer Billy Joel performing in New Zealand in 2022. Joel made a surprise return to the stage in the US this weekend in his first concert appearance since revealing he has a brain disorder. Piano Man singer Billy Joel performing in New Zealand in 2022. Photo / Dean PurcellBilly Joel made a surprise return to the stage this weekend in his first concert appearance since revealing he has a brain disorder. The 76-year-old music icon joined Billy Joel tribute band, Turnstiles, for two numbers at a show in Wellington, Florida, on Friday night, USA Today reported.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 04:58 UTC
Supermoon, Wolf Moon or full moon? Kiwis share their photos
On average, the moon is about 380,000km away from the Earth, but in the last few days it has been about 360,000km away, Davison said. Other well-known moons included the Harvest Moon and the Strawberry Moon. Kiwis have taken to social media to share their snaps of the moon, including Adrienne White, who posted perfectly timed shots of the moon rising behind Auckland’s Sky Tower. She shot her photo with a long focal point length and crop sensor, which created the magnified effect on the moon. “Nature never fails to amaze,” wrote another poster, sharing a video of the moon glowing brightly.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 04:49 UTC
Auckland traffic delays after truck carrying house hits SH1 overbridge
NZ Herald Morning News Update | US forces capture Venezuela's leader and managers of Swiss Bar placed under criminal investigation. Video / NZ HeraldAlready a subscriber? Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Auckland motorists are warned to expect delays after a truck carrying a small house collided with an overbridge. Police said in a statement they were called to the scene between the Papakura and Manurewa-Takanini off-ramps near Conifer Grove at 3.25pm.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 04:27 UTC
‘At last’: Venezuelans abroad celebrate Maduro’s ouster by US forces
“Today, January 3rd, the dreams of Venezuelans abroad came true,” Ana Gonzalez, one of the revellers, told AFP. Photo / Giorgio Viera, AFPIn Spain, home to about 400,000 Venezuelans, thousands came together in Madrid to celebrate. People react to the news of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after US military actions in Venezuela this morning, in Doral, Florida, near Miami. Venezuelan citizens living in Spain gather at Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. “Venezuela has gone through a very difficult process; these have been very hard years – years of hunger, misery, torture, friends lost, friends who disappeared,” Benitez told AFP.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 03:52 UTC
The big obstacles to Trump’s plan for a Venezuelan oil windfall
“But first you need political stability and clarity.”He said restoring peak oil production there would cost up to US$100 billion ($173.3b) and take roughly a decade. Venezuela’s power grid is on the brink, creating an uncertain outlook for oil production, which requires massive amounts of energy. US oil production soared during the Biden administration, but the pace of growth has slowed since Trump returned to office, with some forecasts predicting declines this year. One of her energy advisers, Evanan Romero, a former Venezuelan oil executive and government minister, stressed in an interview that if the oil firms wish to return, “we will welcome them”. “They will make money, Venezuela will make money,” he said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 03:03 UTC
Ashes applause for Bondi Beach heroes
Bondi beach hero Ahmed al Ahmed was acknowledged as part of a tribute in Sydney before the final Ashes test began. Among them were intensive care paramedics, doctors from Royal Prince Alfred and St Vincent's hospitals, lifesavers and local police, several of whom assisted while off duty. Star Australian players Alex Carey and Cameron Green applauded Ahmed and Dadon as they walked by, clearly aware Sunday's biggest heroes weren't those in cricket whites. "Thank you everybody, thank you for sharing our gratitude for the incredible service that these individuals and many others provided," the ground announcer said as applause rang out around the stadium. After both anthems, Ahmed, Dadon and the first responders were greeted by New South Wales' Sports minister Steve Kamper and Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 04, 2026 02:36 UTC
Inside the award-winning homes of four New Zealand architects
Steph Roughan of Patchwork Architecture designed this house, which won a regional 2025 award from the NZ Institute of Architects. Additions and alterations at this house in Berhampore, Wellington, won a 2025 regional NZ Institute of Architects' award. Popadich House won a 2025 NZ Institute of Architects Award. Interior of the Popadich House, which won a Te Kāhu Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects' 2025 regional award. Additions and alterations at this house in Berhampore, Wellington, won a 2025 regional NZ Institute of Architects' award.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 02:00 UTC
Auckland residents driven mad by faulty fire alarm disrupting their summer holidays
On New Year’s Eve, a resident contacted Auckland Council Noise Control. According to Lily, they were told not to continue calling emergency services because the situation was not considered an emergency. Lily told the Herald numerous calls and emails to Boutique Body Corporates Limited have gone unanswered. Another neighbour called police, who suggested contacting Auckland Council Noise Control. A video supplied to the Herald shows the complex with a loud alarm noise going off.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 00:50 UTC
Wairoa flooding: Drains overwhelmed as 120mm falls in 24 hours
All up, 120mm fell in the 24 hours from 7am Saturday. “Rain starts to feel heavy when it’s more than 5mm an hour so to have 66mm in two hours is absolutely torrential,” Lyons said. “This sort of flooding has happened before, but if we keep getting weather events like this we need to look at what we can do to prevent it. Lyons said the weather would get considerably more settled heading into Monday, with sunny skies likely and some passing cloud. Lyons said the chance of thunderstorms reoccurring this week was looking very unlikely with the prevailing weather pattern.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 00:40 UTC
Blackwater Mammoth mine roof collapse: Trapped worker found dead underground
“One worker was safely recovered yesterday, while specialist teams worked through the night to stabilise the site and access the second individual. “Tragically, that worker could not be saved.”He said the miner’s death was a tragedy and an investigation would be launched into the incident. “Mammoth Underground Coal Management Pty Ltd, as the coal mine operator, is providing its full co-operation and mining operations have been suspended until further notice,” a spokesman said. Police confirmed emergency services were called at about 3pm following reports of an industrial accident at a mine off Cooroorah Road in Blackwater. “RSHQ, along with emergency services and mines rescue, is responding to the incident,” an RSHQ spokesman said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 04, 2026 00:34 UTC