Stories from Wellington · New Zealand

New Zealand business confidence fell to minus 10.6 in April, down from 32.5 in March according to a weekly survey. The construction sector recorded the largest drop in activity.

Holger Reinecke and his wife are selling their property on Axis Road after 24 years due to concerns over a proposed mine. The property is located near the Dunstan mountains and sits under a proposed tailings dam.

Crusaders skipper David Havili will play his 150th game for the franchise tonight. The match features the defending champions against the Hurricanes in Wellington. Crusaders coach Rob Penny stated Havili's leadership and influence on the side is.

A political party launched its election manifesto at Parliament on Thursday morning. The manifesto includes a commitment to spend $21 million per year on healthcare initiatives. The plan aims to achieve a 90% HPV immunisation target by 2030. The launch included personal testimonies regarding cancer diagnoses and smear test results. The program is estimated to cost $21 million per year. During the launch, Jen Jewel shared her experience of being diagnosed with abnormal cells via a smear test at age 35. The platform aims to address disparities in treatment protocols compared to international standards. An MP based in Epsom has been handed the health portfolio following the retirement of Dr Shane Reti in March. The new minister stated a commitment to engaging directly with Pacifica communities.

New Zealand households spend approximately $77 per week on goods implicated in modern slavery, including coffee and electronics. In 2022, the country imported almost $8 billion in goods from 39 countries identified as using forced or child labour.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark stated that Winston Peters did not deliberately act regarding the release of emails involving Christopher Luxon. The documents show Luxon sought explicit public support for the US within days of the war starting.

A New Zealand study shows children are exposed to unhealthy food and drink marketing an average of 68 times per day. Associate Professor Victoria Egley stated the exposure is deliberate rather than accidental.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is seeking information regarding New Zealanders who may have been involved when Israeli military patrols intercepted a flotilla of 50 boats. The discussion said that the action violated international law and put the lives of numerous civilians from various nations at risk. The discussion raised questions regarding the potential responses from Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom within the United Nations. Six New Zealand nationals were among those caught in the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla attempting to reach Gaza. 22 of the 58 boats in the flotilla and their crews were attacked and intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters. Sources describe the intervention as improper. Two New Zealanders, Ha Hauna Ormsby among them, avoided capture during an incident involving a flotilla.

National Party deputy leader Nicola Willis stated that Winston Peters' office acted in bad faith regarding the release of emails. The correspondence concerns Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's stance on a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran.

A court in Wellington has turned down an appeal by Brenton Tarrant, a 35-year-old white supremacist. Tarrant admitted to carrying out New Zealand's deadliest modern-day mass shooting, which killed 51 people. The incident resulted in 51 deaths.