Five Big Things: Friday, February 2

Chlöe Swarbrick, wild weekend weather and 'dino kids'.

Chlöe Swarbrick has announced her bid for the position of Green Party co-leader, confirming widespread speculation.

A co-leadership position opened up following James Shaw’s announcement this week that he would step down.

Emergency doctors across New Zealand say extra security provided to EDs over the Christmas and New Year period was "a mixed bag" — depending on the quality of training and support provided to security staff.

The Government spent $5.7 million to boost security at a number of "high risk" hospitals over warnings violence was on the rise.

Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall is calling for Associate Health Minister Casey Costello to be relieved of her duties — saying the minister has yet "to come clean" on her motives for easing the excise tax on tobacco products.

Costello's been under scrutiny after she denied having sought specific advice on a three-year freeze — conflicting with a Health Ministry document she sent to officials late last year.

The lower North Island and much of the South is set for a rough start to the weekend, with a number of severe weather warnings and watches in place.

A "fast-moving" front will bring heavy rain to the West Coast, while "severe gale northwest winds are possible for parts of central New Zealand".

Under cover of darkness a year ago, someone breached a fence into Central Park Zoo before cutting a hole through a steel mesh cage, freeing a Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco.

Since his dramatic escape, Flaco has been thriving in the urban wilds. But as he enters his second year in the spotlight, it's easy to forget that his freedom is the result of an unsolved crime.

Christchurch boy Aiden Kees, 8, was virtually housebound for years due to being triggered by new places, big crowds and loud noise.

But the world's opened up for Aiden after he got his Hāpai Access Card, which has symbols relating to people with disabilities' individual needs. Supporting businesses are schooled on how to help.

Read the full story here.

An asteroid as big as a skyscraper will pass within 2.7 million kilometres of Earth over the weekend.

But don't worry: There's no chance of it hitting us since it will pass seven times the distance from Earth to the moon.