Five Big Things: Wednesday, February 21

The tragic death of an MP, the CEO of a major supermarket chain steps down, and the Government’s new benefit policies come under fire.

First-term MP Efeso Collins collapsed at a charity event this morning and was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw said Aotearoa has lost one of its "kindest, most dedicated champions of fairness and equality".

During his advocacy and political careers, Collins stuck closely to his roots, highlighting the issues that mattered to South Auckland and Pacific communities.

Collins is survived by his wife, Fia, and his two daughters.

Brad Banducci's exit follows his bombshell walkout from an ABC interview this week after being questioned on price gouging.

Woolworths Group announced on Wednesday morning that Banducci, who has faced growing criticism in his role, will retire after 13 years with the company.

Banducci is CEO of the Woolworths Group across Australia and New Zealand. In NZ, the company owns Woolworths and Countdown supermarkets.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is clear in his view of the Government's plan to apply sanctions more strictly for people on the job seeker benefit: It won't help.

"We know that sanctions don't work," Hipkins said.

He said that "simply beating them with a stick" won't make persistently unemployed job seekers find sustainable employment.

Lyudmila Navalnaya, who has been trying to get his body since Sunday, appeared in a video outside the Arctic penal colony where Navalny died on Saturday.

"For the fifth day, I have been unable to see him. They wouldn't release his body to me. And they're not even telling me where he is," a black-clad Navalnaya said in the video, outside the the barbed wire of Penal Colony No. 3 in Kharp, about 1900km northeast of Moscow

Russian authorities have said the cause of Navalny's death is still unknown and refused to release his body for two weeks as the preliminary inquest continues, members of his team said.

Kiwi racer Shane van Gisbergen described his first full-time NASCAR race as "wild", after finishing an impressive 12th place yesterday at Daytona.

The Kiwi qualified fifth in the Kulig Racing 97 Camaro, holding his own at the top of the pack — even after finding himself among a multi-car wreck on lap 30.

In a statement, van Gisbergen described the race as "pretty wild".

Business owners on Te Atatū Rd in Te Atatū Peninsula were left scratching their heads after spotting the road markings at a stop near the library read "bus sotp".

Yesterday evening, contractors returned to the scene, quickly painting over the mistake.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited has released its annual Iconic Auckland Eats list, showing off a range of the city's best dishes.

The list is a "culinary celebration, highlighting unique and beloved dishes that can only be savoured in Tāmaki Makaurau".

Find out more here.