Inside the Rovers: Capital Punishment
Fire and Emergency crews from South Auckland stations have attended an unexplained fire at a Funeral home in Mangere overnight. Video / NZ Herald
Flooding on Ross Rd in Parua Bay, Whangārei. Video / Kathy Wallace
Kerikeri River at full spate after wet weather. Video / Ian Johnston
The US is considering a 'harder' approach to Russia. Pope Francis' funeral sees thousands gather at Vatican City. Massive explosion at major Iranian port. Video / NZ Herald
Diagnosed at 45 with stage 4 cancer, Jackie Robertson wants earlier bowel screening — and a better chance for others. Video \ Jason Dorday
Pope Francis is farewelled at a funeral ceremony in the Vatican's St Peter's Square. Video / AFP
Thousands, including US President Donald Trump, Britain's Prince William and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have gathered in the Vatican for Pope Francis' funeral.
North Shore residents have had their first glimpse of the devastation caused by the recent fire at the Abilities Group recycling plant on Hill Rd. Video / NZ Herald
Mourners turn out in huge numbers for Pope Francis. Fatal crash in Rotorua. Kremlin, US peace talks 'constructive'. Video / NZ Herald
Now based in Las Vegas, Kiwi comic Sam Wills is heading home for a special anniversary show.
Two firefighters had to be rescued last night after their aerial unit broke down, stranding them above the flames in a cloud of heavy smoke.
A man has been critically injured following a stabbing on Coburg St in Henderson Valley. Video / NZ Herald
Wendy's NZ owner Greg Flynn, chief executive and founder of Flynn Group, talks to Tom Raynel about the NZ business and his plans for growth in Australia. Video / Alyse Wright
Thousands have gathered for Anzac Day services around the country as Kiwis remember our fallen servicemen and women. Video / Cherie Howie / NZ Herald
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RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Macron suggests new options for New Caledonia's future status
Demonstration in support New Caledonia against the unfreezing of the electoral body, Place de la Republique, in Paris. 25 May 2024. Photo: AFP / Fiora Garenzi / Hans Lucas French President Emmanuel Macron's has unveiled a range of options regarding New Caledonia's future political status at a "New Caledonia summit" in Paris this week. Speaking at the opening session of an open-ended forum dedicated to the French Pacific territory - but behind closed doors - Macron was reported as mentioning, as part of a range of possible options, an "associated State" status for New Caledonia, with a "strong link with France". Other options mentioned by the French Head of State include a status quo or a "large autonomy". However, all options would be tied to a necessary "reconstruction" and refoundation" period of "15 to 20 years" in order to rebuild New Caledonia's economic and social fabric that has been severely damaged following riots that took place in May 2024. The riots resulted in 14 deaths and over €2 billion in material damage, triggering a downfall of an estimated 15 to 20 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and leaving thousands of people unemployed. During the transition period, New Caledonia would be ruled by a specific "fundamental law", a de facto constitution enshrined in the French Constitution that would replace the 1998 Nouméa Accord. At the end of the transition period, a referendum would be held to endorse a "project" for New Caledonia's socio-economic model. France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, France's Minister of Overseas Manuel Valls, France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet, Secretary General of the French Presidency Emmanuel Moulin, first vice-president of the customary senate of New Caledonia Ludovic Boula, representative of the second vice-president of the customary senate Victor Gogny, and President of the customary senate Aguetil Mahe Gowe attend a custom ceremony as the inauguration of a summit on New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris on 2 July 2025. Photo: AFP / Ludovic Marin The presidential statements have triggered several reactions from all sides of New Caledonia's political chessboard. On the pro-France side of parties that want New Caledonia to remain part of France, New Caledonia's Southern Province President Sonia Backès said she favoured the notion of a 15 to 20 years transitional period, but remained "totally opposed" to the notion of an associated State. On the pro-independence side, the mention of an Associated State prompted positive, albeit cautious reactions from the main independence movement, the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front). Its chief negotiator, Emmanuel Tjibaou, during a press conference held on the margins of the summit on Thursday, told media Macron's initial speech was "interesting", especially the fact that the word "associated State" was uttered. "We're interested in this. It commits us to a trajectory". Tjibaou however said their camp required that all this be "put to paper, in writing". "We remain vigilant, we need concrete and written elements (from France)", he said. "We discuss and then we go back to our base to validate the process (...) That's how we operate". President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet (L), France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, France's President Emmanuel Macron, France's Minister of Overseas Manuel Valls and President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher attend a session of a summit on New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris on 2 July 2025. Photo: AFP / Ludovic / Marin But other FLNKS representatives remain doubtful that any sort of agreement would be inked, at least not this time, "even if we stay one week, two weeks, one month", said delegation member Mickaël Forrest during the same media conference. The conference was also attended by FLNKS president Christian Téin, who attempted to join the "summit" on Wednesday but was denied access because he was not on the list of invited guests. "(Macron) holds the keys to his house. I accept that", Téin said, adding he fully trusted the FLNKS delegation. Téin was released from a jail in Mulhouse (North-East of France), where he spent one year, after he was arrested. Under lighter judicial control conditions, he is now awaiting trial for criminal-related charges, but is not to interfere with persons related to his case and is still not allowed to return to New Caledonia. Talks are still underway among delegations of political representatives, all gathered behind closed doors in a hotel in the city of Bougival (West of Paris). There is no specified duration for the series of political meetings, which could last "as long as necessary". New Caledonia's FLNKS chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou (L) and FLNKS President Christian Téin at a media conference on 3 July 2025. Photo: Supplied / Outremer la 1ère In parallel to the political talks this week in Paris, another conference is also dedicated to New Caledonia's necessary economic reform, including the crucial nickel mining industry, which is also facing a near-collapse situation. The so-called "Economic and Social College" started on Thursday, at the French Ministry for Overseas and is expected to last until Friday. There are four themes organised into roundtables and workshops: the reform of New Caledonia's economic and social fabric, including taxes, the nickel industry, the economy's diversification and its relations to Pacific neighbours. The guest, State Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, is flanked by Minister for public accounts Amélie de Montchalin. She stressed the interdependence between economy and politics. "While economy is essential to (New Caledonia's) success, a political agreement is also essential to the economy's rebound", she said. Business leaders in the French Pacific territory have consistently stressed the need for "visibility", security and stability if New Caledonia was to remain attractive to existing and potential investors. The meeting also involves politicians as well as Mayors of New Caledonia and socio-economic and civil society stakeholders. Business leaders association MEDEF-NC leader Mimsy Daly hailed the approach, but said now was the time to "take into account New Caledonians' suffering on a daily basis." "We hope something positive will come out of this quickly."
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Pope trying to unify Vatican with emphasis on protocol and tradition
Pope Leo XIV heads off on holiday on Sunday, having spent his first two months as Catholic leader rebuilding unity and bolstering tradition after his predecessor's unorthodox papacy. 'Prudent', 'methodical' and 'listening' are some of the words used by Vatican insiders who spoke to AFP to describe the approach of
1News
a day ago
- 1News
Overseas Kiwis struggle with massive interest, penalties on student loans
A former IRD prosecutor is calling for changes to the student loan system so that Kiwis living overseas aren't put off coming home because they're worried about being arrested at the border. In April, interest rates for overseas borrowers were lifted from 3.9% to 4.9% and the late payment interest rate for all borrowers to 8.9%. Tax barrister Dave Ananth said this is putting people off returning to New Zealand at a time we should be encouraging skilled people to come home. A pilot who's been living in Australia for over 10 years has racked up a whopping $170,000 in student loan debt, most of it being interest. After completing his training in 2014 he struggled to find work in Aotearoa, so he headed across the ditch, where he worked as a commercial pilot for six years. ADVERTISEMENT When the Covid-19 pandemic hit and overseas travel all but ground to a halt, he was forced to take a low-paying job in a storage warehouse meaning he struggled to meet his loan payments. The pilot, who RNZ's Checkpoint has agreed not to name, has since resumed flying for a regional carrier, but worried about an uncertain job market and whether he'd ever pay off his loan. "This loan becomes an ongoing – it becomes a burden and it's not the fact the size of it. There's just no pathway forward as it currently stands." 'I just was deflated' Checkpoint also spoke to a woman who was unable to come home to see her sick mother as she was scared, she'd be arrested at the border. When she moved to the United States 20 years ago, her student loan debt was around $15,000. That had ballooned to close to $70,000. "When they told me how much penalty fees that I had and that was 10 years ago when I first found out about the penalty fees and that was more than my initial student loan and interest combined, I just was deflated." ADVERTISEMENT She received emails from IRD threatening legal action if she didn't pay, but she said she couldn't afford it. "You may think, 'oh no, I'm just going to go to a different country and make all my money there'. "But at some point, in time, when you're older, you're going to want to go back to your roots and see family and friends. I just screwed that up for myself. "Just don't get yourself in this situation like so many of us have where you can't even go home and see family when they're ill. "I've been petrified something's going to happen to my mum and she's going to pass away and I'm not even going to be able to go there." After getting legal help from former IRD prosecutor Dave Ananth, IRD agreed to wipe the penalty fees so she now need only pay the original $15,000 loan and interest. 80,000 overseas-based Kiwis with overdue payments ADVERTISEMENT Student loan. (Source: Ananth, who's a tax barrister with the law firm Stace Hammond, agreed there should be penalties for failure to pay but said these should be looked at on a case-by-case basis. "A lot of them are telling me I've not heard from IRD for the last 10 years, but IRD's perspective is it's your obligation, you should contact. "[It's] that sort of 'Who should contact? I'm away, you haven't rung me, there was no emails', that sort of thing. I think both sides need to come to the table." He also wanted better communication between IRD and the student debtor. "There should be a bit of leeway to say, 'Hey, OK you come in, but come back and talk to us and see whether a hardship application can be made, whether you can pay a few $100 for a start and then we can see how you go'." "For a lot of them because the loan has been taken, 15, 20 years ago they've got their head buried in the sand, they don't want to deal with it. So, it creates a lot of anxiety, creates mental stress for a lot of people." ADVERTISEMENT In the year to March, there were about 80,000 overseas-based student loan borrowers with overdue repayments – that's an increase of 10% on the year before. In total they owed $2.3 billion. Ananth said many people had found the grass wasn't greener overseas. "Everyone doesn't go overseas straight away and then lands in this cushy, $200,000, $300,000 job." He said people working in healthcare, technology, and engineering should be prioritised to help plug gaps in the job market here. Border arrests a last resort - IRD Inland Revenue said between January 23 and February 7 this year they had emailed 3502 borrowers with overdue repayments telling them they're being monitored, and that enforcement may be taken against them. ADVERTISEMENT That could include being arrested at the New Zealand border. But it said border arrests were a last resort, and it would work with people before taking legal action. One borrower in default had been arrested in the past year. IRD said it could consider remission of late payment interest, but on a case-by-case basis. It said borrowers often did not update their contact details when overseas making it harder for the department to contact them. The student loan base interest rate was increased by one percent in the 2024 Budget and was intended to partially cover the loss in value of the scheme due to recent high inflation. IRD did not set the student loan interest or late payment interest rates. "Student loan interest that has been correctly charged on overseas based borrowers student loan accounts cannot be written off under current legislation, nor can Inland Revenue accept any agreement that voids a borrower's liability to repay this. "We always encourage student loan borrowers to contact us directly to discuss their situation. There is no need to engage the services of a lawyer." By Bella Craig for
