Green MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised after a Parliamentary outburst, Winston Peters has been accused of defamation and an emotional support alligator has gone missing.
1 Green MP 'working from home' after Parliament outburst
Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has been accused of "intimidating" behaviour after leaving her seat to confront Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey on Wednesday night.
Genter could be heard saying "read the report, read the report," as she approached Doocey and stood over him. She could also be seen picking up a document and smacking it back down again on the minister's desk.
Deputy speaker and National MP Barbara Kuriger told 1News she had never seen anything like it before, describing Genter's actions as "certainly inappropriate".
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick said a disciplinary process was underway where it would be made clear that this "must not happen again".
2 Winston Peters accused of 'defamatory' remarks about ex-Australian minister
In an interview with RNZ on Thursday, Peters criticised the former Australian senator Bob Carr's views on AUKUS. The comments have been removed from the interview online after Carr told RNZ he would pursue legal action.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Peter's comments were "totally unacceptable", "well outside his brief," and that he had "embarrassed the country" by creating legal risk to the New Zealand government. He also called for the Prime Minister to stand Peters down over the comments.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said an experienced politician like Carr should understand the "rough and tumble of politics". He added that he would not make the comments Peters made and that he had not discussed them with him.
3 Deputy mayor 'disgusted' by response to proposed Georgina Beyer memorial
A life-size bronze statue of the late Georgina Beyer, whose election as Carterton mayor in 1995 made her the world's first transgender mayor, would be externally funded and cost between $300,000-$500,000 to install.
Carterton's deputy mayor Dale Williams said: "I'm just really disappointed at how some people have expressed their views by tearing apart a deceased person and their character when they can't defend themselves."
Mayor Ron Mark said Georgina would be "laughing right now because she has always been controversial".
4 Govt pledges $67m for structured literacy rollout
Starting term one 2025, Kiwi students will start to learn reading using the structured literacy approach.
It is a way of teaching literacy where a teacher explicitly explains and models key skills, and children are not expected to develop skills from exposure or incidental learning opportunities. Students use sounds and phonics to understand words.
Education Minister Erica Stanford revealed the funding would support professional development for teachers, books and resources, introducing phonics checks to assess student progression, and additional support for students that need it.
5 Man arrested over machete threat prior to Wellington Hospital shooting
A 40-year-old man has been arrested after an altercation outside Wellington Hospital yesterday, which ended with a gun being fired. Police said the man had been taken into custody for allegedly threatening a person with a machete.
Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said police were continuing to make inquiries to locate the second person involved in the incident.
The man in custody was due to appear in Wellington District Court on Friday charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
ONE SCRAPPED SHOW
New Zealand Fashion Week won't take place this year and will move to a biennial schedule amid the economic downturn and pressures on consumer spending.
Owner Feroz Ali said the "strategic decision" was made due to economic downturn, reduced consumer spending and a shortage of designers.
"We have listened to the industry, and carefully considered and taken on board the feedback from designers around the country, who tell us they need dedicated time and space to focus on their core retail business."
ONE UNUSUAL MISSING PET
A Pennsylvania man who credits an alligator named Wally for helping relieve his depression for nearly a decade says he is searching for the reptile after it went missing during a vacation to the coast of Georgia.
Joie Henney has thousands of social media users following his pages devoted to Wally, the cold-blooded companion that he calls his emotional support alligator.
He said he suspects someone stole Wally from the fenced, outdoor enclosure where Wally spent the night on April 21.
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