Turbulence has killed a man on a Singapore Airlines flight, while the OCR has held steady, and former justice minister Kiri Allan pleaded guilty.
1 One dead after severe turbulence hits Singapore Airlines flight
A Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean and descended around 1800 metres in about three minutes, the carrier said overnight. A British man died and authorities said dozens of passengers were injured, some severely.
An airport official said the 73-year-old man may have had a heart attack, although that hasn't been confirmed. His name wasn't immediately released.
Singapore Airlines confirmed there were 23 New Zealanders on the flight.
A Kiwi man, who was travelling with his wife on the plane, received 31 stitches, his family told 1News.
They told their family in messages there was “violent shaking for 30 seconds and then a massive drop”.
The Boeing 777 flight from London's Heathrow airport to Singapore, with 211 passengers and 18 crew members aboard, was diverted and landed in stormy weather in Bangkok.
2 Homeowners listing before bank sells house from under them
Interest rates might have peaked but the mortgage pain is not over yet, and there is likely more of an impact felt in the housing market, commentators say.
Higher interest rates have been blamed for a significant fall in house values. While the market drop has now largely stopped, prices are still well down on their peak — about 15% by the Real Estate Institute's (REINZ) measure.
Corelogic data showed that 7.1% of homes that changed hands in the first quarter of this year sold for less than they had been bought for. The median hold period of those that made a loss was 2.4 years. The median loss was $50,000.
3 Reserve Bank holds OCR - but discussed raising it
The official cash rate (OCR) will be held at 5.5%, the Reserve Bank has announced, in line with expectations as inflation remains stubborn in parts of the economy.
Today's decision marks the seventh consecutive time the central bank's monetary policy committee has held the rate. The OCR has now been held at 5.5% for 12 months,
However, the central bank said it did discuss the "possibility of increasing the OCR" and said interest rates may need to stay restrictive for longer than expected.
4 Budget 2024: First Home Grant cut — 1500 social homes in its place
The Government will end first home buyers grants — shifting the money to fund about 1500 new social housing places to be provided by external organisations instead of Kāinga Ora.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop made the announcement today at Parliament.
The First Home Loan scheme — which allowed for 5% deposits — and first home buyers' ability to dip into their KiwiSaver for their house deposit, would remain.
The 2024 Budget would allocate $140 million in new funding for the social housing spots — all money from ending Kāinga Ora's First Home Grants.
5 Kiri Allan pleads guilty on day trial was set to begin
Former Labour justice minister Kiri Allan has now pleaded guilty to all charges she faced following a car crash in July last year.
She was charged in July with careless driving and refusing to accompany a police officer after she crashed into a parked car on Evans Bay Parade in Wellington.
Allan was also issued an infringement notice for driving with excess breath alcohol between 250 and 400mg.
She resigned from her ministerial portfolios and left politics.
ONE HOPEFUL STORY
A man who spent years behind bars but has recently secured his first job in more than a decade says he's been given positive feedback from an employer for the first time in his life after finally being given a chance.
After getting out of prison, Fielding got in touch with Work and Income – but said employers "didn't want anything to do with [him]" once they found out about his criminal past
Now, thanks to BBM recruitment, he works for Gen2 car detailers in Manukau, cleaning vehicles for Trust Motors.
"It feels amazing," he told 1News. "I'm just over the moon".
ONE INFORMATIVE READ
Record numbers of people are leaving New Zealand – but is the grass really greener overseas?
New Zealand lost more than 1000 citizens a week in the year to March 31, amid a contracting economy and rising unemployment.
What can they expect in the countries they’re moving to?
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