Hail batters parts of Auckland, Smith and Caughey's in Auckland's set to close after 144 years, and a Taranaki contractor is fined $80k for building a rock seawall across the front of a Māori burial ground.
1 Hail batters parts of Auckland amid severe weather
Hail has battered parts of Auckland amid wild weather this afternoon.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been lifted for Auckland and other parts of the upper North Island. However, a severe thunderstorm watch until 7pm is still in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, and Waikato.
The temperature in parts of Auckland saw a dramatic drop this afternoon, with hail falling on the city. A strong wind warning remains in place until 3am tomorrow.
2 Auckland's famed Smith and Caughey's set to close after 144 years
One of New Zealand's oldest department stores, Smith and Caughey's, is set to close under a proposal that was presented to more than 200 staff today.
The store has been a famous part of Auckland's retail scene, having been founded in 1880. But the historic department store will soon close for good in early 2025.
The retailer's Newmarket branch and website are also set to go amid a "perfect storm" of circumstances.
3 Horror Waikato crash: Police focused on the 'why'
As Waikato reels in the wake of a horrific head-on collision that left five people dead yesterday afternoon, police are focusing on why one of the vehicles crossed the centre line.
Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 3 in Ōhaupō, between Te Awamutu and Hamilton, at 4.44pm yesterday.
"Police can confirm the three occupants of one vehicle, and two occupants of the other vehicle all died at the scene," said Waikato road policing manager Inspector Jeff Penno.
"To lose five lives in these circumstances is heartbreaking, and our thoughts go out to all the families affected."
4 Taranaki contractor fined $80k for illegal seawall at urupā site
A Taranaki-based contracting company has been convicted and fined $80,500 for the unlawful construction of a rock seawall across the front of a Māori burial ground.
Peter Sole Transport Limited was sentenced in the Huntly District Court on Monday by Judge Melinda Dickey, on two charges under the Resource Management Act.
The prosecution was taken by Waikato Regional Council for the illegal works were carried out at Mōkau in December 2021.
5 Thunderstorms, wind gusts up to 120km/h for upper North Island
A strong wind watch for Auckland has been upgraded to an Orange Warning by MetService this morning, with wind gusts of 120km/h possible in exposed places from 3pm today.
"Quite a nasty rough spell" was on the cards for the upper North Island overnight and on Wednesday, 1News meteorologist Dan Corbett said, with a "one-two punch" of gale force winds, showers, and thunderstorms forecast.
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ONE ODD STORY
A Japanese town that erected a huge black screen last week in an attempt to stop tourists from snapping photos of Mount Fuji and overcrowding the area has discovered holes in the screen and is working to repair them, officials said.
Fujikawaguchiko, a popular spot to view and photograph the iconic mountain, put up the screen last Tuesday – but the next day officials discovered a hole in it.
By yesterday, officials had found around 10 similar holes, all at eye level, and all apparently just the right size to fit a camera lens through.
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