Stories from New Zealand

Coroner Alexander Ho opened an inquest into the Abbey Caves tragedy that occurred in May 2023. Patera had dropped Kannon off at school on the morning of the incident. The inquest follows reports of bad weather and orange-heavy rain warnings in Whangarei during the event. A coroner's inquiry into the death of Kanin Petra in Abbey caves began today. Alicia Toke, the mother of a teenage boy who died during a school caving trip three years ago, is attending the proceedings. Toke stated she hopes the inquiry will result in real change. The family of the deceased expressed a desire for clear findings to prevent similar incidents involving school trips or organizers. The inquiry aims to provide lessons for the Ministry of Education and other schools. A teacher provided evidence during an inquest into the drowning of 15-year-old Kanan Petera.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has acknowledged that his previous desire to provide full support for the attack on Iraq was a mistake. The admission follows criticism regarding his past stance on the conflict. Opposition parties, including Labour and the Greens, are using the acknowledgment to claim the coalition government is unstable. The source noted that the Prime Minister has expressed a desire to make amends for the error.

New Zealand leader Winston Peters admitted he made a mistake by not consulting on a specific matter. No specific details regarding the subject of the consultation were provided in the transcript. He stated there is no reason the information should not be open. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed dissatisfaction with the error, with his office stating he expects more from Peters given his four decades in public office. Released email correspondence shows the New Zealand Prime Minister preferred offering more explicit public support to the United States. Winston Peters' team raised objections to this approach, according to a spokesperson. The spokesperson stated that the Prime Minister's suggested course of action would have been improved. The correspondence follows a recent interview regarding global peace and security.

An albatross injured during a storm in the lower North Island last week is scheduled for release off the coast of Napier today. The pool features high sides to prevent the weakened bird from escaping and allows for controlled air temperature.

International credit rating agency S&P reported that New Zealand councils are facing financial strain, forcing them to postpone essential investments or increase borrowing. The government intends to cap annual rate increases between 2% and 4% to prevent consecutive double-digit increases. The agency noted that council needs remain high while solutions are not clear-cut. The report notes that some council staff receive high salaries, with some earning over $200,000 per year. Additionally, 88 staff members are paid more than $256,000, a figure exceeding that of a Government Minister outside of Cabinet. The scale of spending varies across different local councils. New Zealand's local government minister, Simon Watts, announced that councils have been granted three months to develop proposals for amalgamation. The reforms aim to create fewer, larger councils to better serve communities.

Two people were hospitalized following a reported stabbing on Kiwi Street in Hastings. One victim is in critical condition and the other is in moderate condition. Police confirmed that one person has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Speaker of the House Jerry Brownlee has suspended TVNZ political editor Mikey Sherman from Parliament for five days. The suspension runs from May 1 to May 6. Brownlee stated the suspension follows attempts by Sherman to secure an interview that went beyond the prescription and spirit of parliamentary rules. The decision was announced in a statement released on Thursday. The editor informed the Speaker that it was not her intention to violate the rules but accepts the decision. Brownlee stated that all protocols between the Parliament Speaker's Office and the Press Gallery have been satisfied. Speaker Gerry Brownlee announced the five-day suspension of the TVNZ political editor. Sherman was reportedly pursuing National Party whip Stuart Smith concerning reports of caucus dissatisfaction with Christopher Luxon's leadership.

New Zealand rugby league player Chanel Harris-Tavita is facing speculation regarding a move to the Cowboys next year. Harris-Tavita has played 100 games for the Warriors since his 2019 debut but is currently off contract.

Tally Seafood confirmed it will close its West Port fish processing factory next month. The decision follows a period of consultation and will affect 92 jobs. The company stated that staff will be offered work in other parts of the business.

Hundreds of shopping trolleys are being dumped around Hamilton, according to a council report. Reports indicate hundreds of abandoned trolleys are being left on streets. The exact volume of trolleys depends on the collation of various reports.