Two found dead on same property in Bay of Plenty
Photo: RNZAn investigation is under way after two people were found dead in separate houses on a property in the Bay of Plenty. Early today, police were called back to the Old Coach Rd property, where a man was found dead in a separate house. He was taken into custody and was due to appear in Tauranga District Court today, charged with assault on a person in a family relationship. "Police would like to speak with anyone who has information about what has happened, or who may have visited the Old Coach Road address between 7pm Wednesday 31 December 2025 and 3am Friday 2 January 2026. "If you can help, please make a report through 105, either online or over the phone, and reference file number: 260101/9901."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 21:42 UTC
ManageMyHealth confirms doctors’ information unaffected after cyber attack
“What we have been able to ascertain so far, it is confined to maybe 7% of our total users, which I know is a large number. “The doctors’ information at this point in time, to the best of my knowledge, has not been affected at all.”The number of users impacted is between 108,000 and 126,000 users. Health Minister Simeon Brown called the breach “concerning”, and Health New Zealand (HNZ) was working closely with ManageMyHealth to ensure it was being appropriately addressed. “At this stage, there is no evidence any HNZ systems, including My Health Account, have been compromised as ManageMyHealth has separate systems,” he said. “The Minister of Health has asked for urgent assurances from Health NZ and Manage My Health that everything is being done to protect patient data and patient privacy.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 20:37 UTC
ASB Classic: Top Kiwi hope Lulu Sun in doubt for Auckland tournament
Lulu Sun was a big drawcard in Auckland last year. The following week in Suzhou she eliminated the top seed Iva Jovic in the first round, before reaching the last four in Jinan. Arguably the highlight came in Guangzhou, where she won six matches as qualifier to reach the final, before she was stopped by second seed Ann Li. That run included victories over then world No 40 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and a three-set battle over American Caty McNally. Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 19:57 UTC
Trump blames bruised hand on aspirin, denies falling asleep
His right hand shows persistent bruising, often covered with thick makeup and at times a bandage, and his ankles have appeared swollen. Biden left office a year ago at 82, making him the oldest president in history – a record Trump is set to surpass during his current term. Bruising and ‘blinking’The Republican explained the bruising on his hand as the result of aspirin that he takes daily to thin his blood. Trump himself told reporters that he underwent an MRI scan in October, but said at the time he had “no idea what they analysed”. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”- Agence France-Presse
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 19:57 UTC
Dozens dead, scores injured in blast at ski resort bar
Emergency personnel work at the site of the explosion at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. Photo: ReutersAbout 40 people were killed and 115 injured when a fire ripped through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, officials say. The head of the local canton's police, Frederic Gisler, said about 40 people were presumed to be dead and 115 were injured, most of them seriously. The most likely scenario at present is that a widespread fire caused an explosion," she told a press conference. Video footage showed lines of ambulances queuing and helicopters landing to take victims to nearby hospitals and specialist burns units in other Swiss cities, including Lausanne and Zurich.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 19:26 UTC
Rule changes we’d love to see in sport: Part 1
Photo / PhotosportLeague: Ditch the golden pointProposed change: Get rid of the NRL’s golden-point rule in regular season. Formula One’s rules around track limits are too strict and punish the aggressive driving that fans love to see. Photo / Red BullCricket: Pinch hitterProposed change: Designated batters for T20. More big hits, more big wickets – that’s all we want to see in cricket’s fastest format. Before the 2017 season, they brought in a rule that meant managers could just signal the umpire to put an opposing hitter on base.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 19:02 UTC
Multitude of activities for racegoers of all ages
The Omakau trots always attract a big crowd to enjoy the Central Otago sunshine and plenty of exciting racing. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONAnother amazing day is in store when the Central Otago Trotting Club holds its annual race day. The feature races today are the $40,000 group 3 Ranfurly Transport Central Otago Cup for pacers, and the $40,000 group 3 Bulk Liquid Solutions Ltd Gallagher Gold Cup for trotters. There are few people as busy on Omakau trots day as Graham Sinnamon. The Omakau Trots always ends with one of the biggest lolly scrambles of the year.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 18:20 UTC
I moved to New Zealand from the UK: These five things surprised me most
I wasn’t expecting a constant oppressive heat, which many back home believe the weather is like (purely because New Zealand is close to Australia). Although the hot weather has started to ramp up, much of New Zealand's climate feels similar to that of the UK. This isn’t to say New Zealand, and Auckland in particular, doesn’t have great pubs. Experiences of pub culture in the UK have been quite different from those in New Zealand. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt as stressed as I have on Auckland roads.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 17:32 UTC
NZ First plans to gut ‘woke’ Labour’s vote – Matthew Hooton
NZ First’s worst-case scenario for 2026 is that it will again hold the balance of power and Peters will again become Deputy Prime Minister. Since the mid-2010s, Labour’s and NZ First’s polling has tended to move inversely, suggesting they compete for the same voters. NZ First’s goal is to increase its vote at Labour’s expense to – at the very least – strengthen its hand with National and Act in a second Luxon Government. However, if history keeps flowing NZ First’s way, the party has a stretch target. Instead of a National-NZ First Government with Luxon as Prime Minister, why not, NZ First strategists ask, a NZ First-National Government with Peters as Prime Minister?
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 17:31 UTC
Memorable arrival starts the year
Carla Probst, pictured in the Queen Mary maternity wing of Dunedin Hospital yesterday, welcomed her son Charlie into the world on New Year’s Day. Once they arrived at the Queen Mary maternity wing in Dunedin, Ms Probst said the staff were "absolutely lovely". Charlie Probst was born about 6.50am yesterday, weighing 3.9kg (8lb 9oz). The whole sequence of events was still a bit of a blur for Ms Probst, as Charlie arrived a couple of days earlier than expected. He was "super excited" about the prospect of a new brother, Ms Probst said, although he was also "a little bit jealous I got to fly in a helicopter".
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 17:28 UTC
Bad Bunny slammed online for touching ancient Mayan monument in Mexico museum
Latin trap and reggaeton artist Bad Bunny attracted controversy online after he was seen touching ancient artefacts at a Mexican museum. Photo / InstagramLatin trap and reggaeton artist Bad Bunny attracted controversy online after he was seen touching ancient artefacts at a Mexican museum. Photo / InstagramRap superstar Bad Bunny has been taken to task online after posting photos of himself touching a historical monument at a Mexican museum. One of the images, posted to his Instagram story, showed him in the exhibit arm, arm outstretched with his hand opened and planted on an ancient stone column engraved with ancient Mayan images and hieroglyphics. Social media reaction to the incident was unfavourable, with many deeming Bad Bunny, 30, to be ignorant and disrespectful.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 16:38 UTC
Witnesses describe scenes of ‘panic’ in fire at Swiss ski resort New Year party
‘Terrible tragedy’A tourist from New York, who filmed bright orange flames pouring from the bar, told AFP he saw people running and screaming. The area around the bar Le Constellation after a fire ripped through the venue during the New Year's Eve celebrations in the luxury Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana. Photo / Maxime Schmid, AFPAt least two French citizens were among the injured, according to initial reports from the French foreign ministry. Le Constellation has a capacity of 300 people, plus another 40 people on its terrace, according to the Crans-Montana website. Alex, 21, meanwhile told RTS that he had arrived at the scene shortly after a loud explosion sounded.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 16:36 UTC
Controversial pension deduction law saves Government half a billion dollars each year
The numbers do not include people who are eligible for the New Zealand pension, but choose not to apply for it because they already know they won’t get it. The highest amount of overseas pension money in 2025 came from the United Kingdom, with $328,500,000 recorded, followed by Australia, with $152,900,000. Auckland man Jim Wolfson says the government policy that allows his overseas pension to be deducted from his New Zealand one is the world's "unfairest law". Stein-Abel has been campaigning against pension deductions for years and recently became a pensioner herself. “I care for a New Zealander with my overseas pension,” she said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 16:14 UTC
Card-skimming crackdown: Air fryers, laptops used for smuggling devices
Chief customs officer Nigel Barnes, who deals with fraud and prohibition, says card skimming is often part of transnational and organised crime. Scammers concealed card-skimming equipment in packages containing items such as air fryers, used laptops and TV antennas. As a result, neither bank said it had received any reports of card skimming from ATMs in the past two years. When entering your PIN number at ATMs and Eftpos terminals, shield the PIN pad with your other hand. When entering your PIN number at ATMs and Eftpos terminals, shield the PIN pad with your other hand.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 16:14 UTC
Second store planned
An impression of the new Super Liquor store planned for Ardmore St in Wānaka. IMAGE: SUPPLIEDThe Cromwell company behind the contentious Hāwea Super Liquor store plans to open its second liquor store in Wānaka early this year. The Gate Ltd also runs the Harvest Hotel and Five Stags Bar & Restaurant in Cromwell, and Super Liquor Wānaka, Cromwell, Alexandra, Lorneville and Remarkables Park (Queenstown). Chief executive Glen Christiansen said all going well the company planned to open the new bottle shop in February. ‘‘It’s a good opportunity, a good site and great off-street parking.’’He said the existing Wānaka store in Reece Cres would continue running, as it had a good loyal customer base and the town was growing.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 16:05 UTC