Kiwi lawyer caught up in Italian superyacht tragedy, big banks under the gun, and the funding fight around the ambulance service.
1 Kiwi lawyer recovering after Italian superyacht tragedy
The father of a Kiwi lawyer who was on board a superyacht told 1News his daughter was "severely traumatised" after the luxury vessel sank during a freak storm off Sicily yesterday.
Ayla Ronald, 36, was among 22 people on board the 56m British-flagged Bayesian, when a storm reportedly broke the mast, causing the yacht to sink.
While she was safe and well, her father said she was still "recovering".
2 Capital raising options for Kiwibank to be investigated – Willis
The Government is looking at options for raising new capital for Kiwibank. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said it would act on all 14 recommendations made in a report by the Commerce Commission that found the country's banking sector was uncompetitive.
She said the banking sector was a "cosy pillow fight" between the big four banks, with "profit margins coming first and everyday Kiwis coming second".
3 'It's just wrong': InterCity left 83-year-old behind in Kaikōura
InterCity has apologised and launched an "immediate investigation" after an 83-year-old man was left stranded in Kaikōura after the bus he was on drove off following a rest stop.
"He was coming back with a bit of food in his hand. He's quite slow… he's 83. He quickened his pace to try and get back to the bus, but the driver got quite agitated — according to people on the bus — and just left him there."
4 Power companies withdraw deals due to price squeeze
"We fear if the situation continues it may be some retailers elect to shut up shop completely," says Powerswitch's general manager.
High wholesale power prices are already reducing the deals that households an get on their electricity, a price comparison website says. Independent retailers had been under pressure in recent months as wholesale power prices soared.
5 Meth pipe found at Polkinghorne's work before Hanna's death, court hears
One of Philip Polkinghorne's ex-colleagues has this morning described what happened when a methamphetamine pipe was found in the offices of Auckland Eye, where Polkinghorne worked, months before his wife died.
This article contains content that could be disturbing to some people.
FUNDING FIGHT AROUND THE AMBULANCE SERVICE
Hato Hone St John ambulance officers have begun the first of two strikes this week amid concerns over their pay and funding for the service overall.
1News explains how this emergency lifeline is financed and supported.
ONE STUNNING DISCOVERY
The inscription on the back of the old watch caught Murray Taylor's eye.
Taylor, Christchurch's Opawa Community Op Shop volunteer, had assumed the old Omega timepiece was worthless: "I had a look at it, and I thought it's not working; it's very old, and the leather strap is almost falling off."
But the words on the back revealed that the owner was a soldier, David Tripp.
They included his number and regiment — New Zealand Armoured Corps, 2 Divisional Cavalry. Taylor took the watch home to investigate further. He discovered its young owner lost his life near Cassino, Italy, on March 6, 1944.
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