A pensioner's one-woman rates strike, a man is jailed for abusing a puppy, and Hilary Barry investigates why your favourite colour isn't always in a bag of liquorice allsorts.
1 Pensioner refuses to pay 'horrendous' council rates
A Hokitika pensioner is staging a one-woman rate strike in protest at the amount she's being asked to pay to the West Coast Regional Council.
Liz Whiteside, 71, has written to all seven regional councillors and chief executive Darryl Lew, taking them to task over soaring rate bills.
Whiteside said she stopped paying her regional rates three years ago when they went up 30%.
"You should all be ashamed of yourselves for giving ratepayers a horrendous increase," she wrote.
2 Polkinghorne's communications intercepted, police pressed on 'open mind'
The defence in Philip Polkinghorne's murder trial has said there were panic buttons in the bedrooms of the couple's home, and the court has heard the murder accused's communications were lawfully intercepted for a time after his wife's death.
Former eye surgeon Polkinghorne is accused of murdering his health boss wife Pauline Hanna at their home in Auckland's Remuera in April 2021. The defence has argued that she committed suicide.
At today's hearing, the jury was shown photos that appeared to show panic buttons in both the master bedroom of the house and the guest bedroom, where Hanna was sleeping around the time of her death.
This article contains content that could be disturbing to some people.
3 'I've nearly half killed him': Man attacked puppy multiple times
A Waikato man who told his partner he "nearly half killed" his puppy has been sentenced to home detention and banned from owning animals for five years.
The SPCA said Milo was attacked "multiple times" in just over a month during 2023.
The abuse saw the man kick, hit, and throw Milo into a heavy timber frame.
In a text message to his partner, the man wrote: "Cum get dis dog I've nearly half killed him."
4 More cuts to come: Health NZ asking for more voluntary redundancies
Health New Zealand is asking for voluntary redundancies from admin and advisory staff ahead of yet more looming job cuts at the agency.
In an email to staff on Wednesday, that has since been published on Te Whatu Ora's website, chief executive Margie Apa said the public health system needed to live within its budgets to be "sustainable".
"That means we need to move towards being a more efficient organisation, focusing our resources on the delivery of frontline healthcare," Apa said.
5 Paralympics: NZ flag bearers looking forward to opening ceremony
Cameron Leslie and Anna Grimaldi have touched down in France, ready to lead New Zealand athletes through the streets of Paris to kickstart the 2024 Paralympics.
The pair spoke to 1News ahead of tomorrow morning's opening ceremony.
Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympics live with TVNZ+, and on TVNZ1, from August 29-September 9. The opening ceremony will be live on TVNZ1 from 5.55am tomorrow.
ONE LOYAL, NUMBER-CRUNCHING LIQUORICE FAN
We're a liquorice-loving nation, and one of the most popular ways to consume it is in an allsort.
We've all got our favourites, and sometimes — just like loyal liquorice fan Graham — we don't get enough of the colour we covet.
They're called liquorice allsorts, but are they created equal? Hilary Barry investigates.
ONE HELPFUL PARENTING TIP
If you've ever opened the door to your child's room only to be greeted by a sea of clothes, toys and who knows what else, you’re not alone.
Among countless reminders, pleading and threats, parents often find themselves in battle with their children when it comes to tidying up.
But you are not doomed to live with piles of Lego, collected sticks and stones – or rooms full of old food and unwashed dishes until your children leave home. There is a different way to approach this.
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