Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida, Judith Collins slams 'misogynistic' comments, and a tram is up for adoption at Auckland's MOTAT.
1 Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as 'deadly' Category 3 storm
Milton has twice reached Category 5 status and had maximum sustained winds of 205km/h as it roared ashore in Sarasota County earlier today.
It brought a deadly storm surge to much of Florida's Gulf Coast, which includes densely populated areas such as Tampa, St Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers. Officials issued dire warnings to residents to flee or face grim odds of survival.
"You need to get out, and you need to get out now," said Pinellas County emergency management director Cathie Perkins.
2 Collins slams 'deeply misogynist' comments on HMNZS Manawanui sinking
The Defence Minister said the vessel's captain, Commander Yvonne Gray, had been attacked online since the sinking of the ship off the coast of Samoa over the weekend.
"The one thing that we already know did not cause it was the gender of the ship's captain, a woman with 30 years of naval experience who made the call to get her people to safety.
"I'm appalled to see the comments online from these armchair admirals, people who will never have to make decisions which mean life or death for their subordinates."
3 Kiwi pilot of fatal Cairns hotel chopper crash affected by alcohol
Investigators said Blake Wilson, 23, took the helicopter from a far north Queensland airport hangar for an "unnecessary and unauthorised" flight after a night of drinking.
He died when the chopper crashed into the roof of a hotel in Cairns CBD, causing the evacuation of around 400 guests.
Parts of the rotor blade were found in hotel rooms, with other debris strewn across the venue's grounds and on the street.
4 'Not in great shape': Government records fifth straight deficit
Treasury opened the Government’s books today, publishing its financial statement for the Government for the 2023 / 2024 tax year.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the results underscored the need for the restoration of "discipline" to public spending and that it was clear the books were "not in great shape".
The period covers a mix of the last Labour Government and the current National-led coalition Government.
5 Third person dies following linked incidents in Rotorua
A woman was found dead at a property in the suburb of Utuhina at 2.35am on September 23.
Later than morning at 5am, a man and his wife were “seriously assaulted” at a Western Heights address. The woman died on October 5 and her husband died in hospital on Wednesday, police said.
"A 52-year-old man who was arrested and charged with murder in relation to a linked incident at an Utuhina property will now be facing murder charges in relation to all three deaths," a spokesperson said.
ONE TRAM UP FOR ADOPTION
MOTAT — which celebrate its 60th anniversary this month — must raise $1 million to fund essential track upgrades and keep the trams rolling along the Western Springs Tramway.
From October 10, MOTAT's Adopt a Train campaign will invite Kiwis to support fundraising efforts by adopting one of seven heritage trams.
QUIZ: WHAT IS THE NAME OF DUNEDIN'S CITY CENTRE PLAZA?
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