Police believe missing climbers 'did not survive', a Canterbury fire doubles in size, and Bitcoin surpasses US$100,000 in value.
1 Police 'do not believe' missing Mount Cook climbers have survived
Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said the items found, the length of time after the group was reported overdue, and lack of communication led police to believe the men had not survived their ascent.
The search for Kurt Blair (56) and Carlos Romero (50) from the United States, and a Canadian national was launched on Monday after they were reported overdue.
Due to poor weather conditions on the mountain, the search was paused late Monday and only resumed today when two drone operators were helicoptered up.
2 Canterbury fire now 980ha, still not controlled, lodge destroyed
The large vegetation fire has almost doubled in size overnight compared to the previous estimate by Fire and Emergency NZ.
State Highway 73 was closed overnight but reopened around midday with stop-go signs in place and traffic being escorted in convoys.
District commander Dave Stackhouse said the perimeter of the fire was now 17km long but that the weather was improving firefighting conditions.
"We can't rest on our laurels however. If the wind conditions come up, we need to increase our resources — that restricts our air attack options."
3 US CEO assassination: Ammo had 'deny','defend', 'depose' written on it
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, died in a dawn ambush as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
The shooter, who remains at large, arrived outside the hotel about five minutes before Thompson did, then waited and ignored other pedestrians before he approached Thompson from behind and shot him several times.
The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies allegedly use to try to avoid paying claims.
4 Weather warnings, watches for much of south, lower north from Sunday
A raft of weather warnings and watches are in place for much of the South Island and parts of the north from Sunday morning, MetService says.
Temperatures are easing today and tomorrow after some hot conditions this week, before northwesterlies usher in a large frontal weather system, Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said.
MetService has issued orange heavy rain and strong wind warnings alongside a number of watches.
5 Chch mosque hero, murdered police officer among those awarded for bravery
A hero who saved worshippers during the Christchurch mosque shootings and a police officer who was fatality shot while trying to assist his partner are among those to be recognised for acts of bravery today.
They are among a group of 38 Kiwis awarded for their actions during acts of bravery in some of New Zealand’s most high-profile events of recent years.
ONE SISTER'S DETERMINATION
As a new report highlights the grim reality of the 50,000 New Zealand women it calls "unhoused, unnoticed and unsafe", Indepth reporter Gill Higgins investigates the story of one of those – Cheyenne of Tauranga – and talks to her sister Misty, who's determined to help the sister she loves into a home of her own.
Watch this story on our home for news, indepth and consumer stories TVNZ+
ONE BITCOIN SPIKE
Bitcoin topped US$100,000 ($NZ$169,945) for the first time this week as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency —largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump — rolls on.
The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures on Wednesday night (local time), just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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