Five Big Things: Thursday, November 23

Good evening. It’s been a day of coalition talks finally ending, the future of self-checkouts and a young woman’s terrifying rare illness.

[Sign up for our Five Big Things That Happened Today newsletter here.]

After 40 days and 40 nights, a coalition deal has finally been done, incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced this afternoon.

However, he kept the details to himself, with parties due to sign off on them overnight.

All the key party leaders, including NZ First’s Winston Peters, are now in Wellington. Tomorrow we may find out who got the big jobs and which election promises did or didn’t make the cut.

At least two people died after a car explosion at the US-Canada border at Niagara Falls.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said there was no indication of “terrorist activity” at this stage. She said the car involved had crashed into a median and flew over a 2.4m high fence.

Internationally, some supermarket chains, including Walmart and Costco, are ditching the self-service checkout. They say it’s about people liking face-to-face contact, though an expert reckons it could be driven by theft.

Here in NZ, New World and Pak'n'Save’s owners say 25% of purchases are done through self-service and customers “love” it so a quick scan and out looks safe for now.

King Charles has honoured K-pop band Blackpink for their work in raising awareness about climate change, making them honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire. The honour for one of the girl band’s members, Roseanne (Rosé) Park, came without the "honorary" qualifier because she has dual citizenship in New Zealand.

"I can only admire how they can prioritise these vital issues, as well as being global superstars," the King said.

A 23-year-old woman has shared her story after a life-threatening battle with Stevens-Johnson syndrome after a month in Palmerston North Hospital.

Charlotte Gilmour says she's "never been so scared" and that the entire experience was "terrifying" but her perspective on life has now "completely changed".

Gwyneth Paltrow is – not unexpectedly - all about the new meditation trend, the sound bath. Jane Clayton went along to try one out in Auckland… no togs required.

A “water-centric trend” has seen Rotorua named in Booking.com’s travel predictions list for 2024.

The lakeside city joins the likes of Portland in the US, Beppu in Japan, Buenos Aires in Argentina and the Bay of Vlore in Albania as one of the "top trending destinations" in the world.