What Google Maps will say about the Gulf of America in New Zealand, US AI stocks tumble as a Chinese rival launches, and at least 55 rare native birds hatch in Auckland.
1 What will Google Maps say about the 'Gulf of America' in NZ?
In the US, Google said users would see the name of the gulf change once the US government's Geographic Names Information System was updated.
In Mexico, Google Maps would continue to display Gulf of Mexico as the official name, according to reporting by Reuters.
While it was not yet known exactly what would be displayed for New Zealand users, Google said in its post there was a "longstanding practice" when there were differing names for a location internationally.
2 Proposal to reduce the number of executive roles at NZ Police
A consultation document, sent to affected staff today, proposed consolidating a number of roles and responsibilities, including the disestablishment of 37 executive and support service positions and the creation of 20 new positions.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said all feedback would be reviewed and carefully considered before final decisions are made in late February.
3 US tech stocks tumble as Chinese competitor DeepSeek rocks AI industry
Wall Street's superstars are tumbling as a competitor from China threatens to upend the artificial-intelligence frenzy they've been feasting on.
The S&P 500 was down 1.9% in midday trading and heading for its worst day in more than a month. DeepSeek's AI assistant became the Number 1 downloaded free app on the App Stores in the United States this morning.
Read more about DeepSeek here.
4 Warning as tablet battery explodes in direct sunlight, causing fire in car
Fire and Emergency NZ said a crew from Mt Maunganui were called to a car fire caused by a device left in the parked car and exposed to direct sunlight.
"The iPad was sitting on a blanket, which caught alight when the battery exploded, starting a fire inside the car. When lithium-ion battery powered devices are exposed to sunlight, they heat up and can cause fires like this one."
5 Taranaki pair win $8.3m on Lotto numbers played for nearly 30 years
Persistence has paid off for a Taranaki couple after their "absolutely incredible" win using the same "special set of numbers" they had played for close to two decades.
"We picked the numbers together a long time ago and have been playing them ever since," the woman said.
"There were a few tears that’s for sure. We kept looking at the ticket to check it was real – it was unbelievable."
ONE MIRACULOUS HATCHING
At least 55 hihi chicks hatched in an Auckland regional park this summer, with Shakespear Open Sanctuary senior ranger Matt Maitland saying the number of healthy chicks “exceeded all our expectations”.
“They are the first hihi – one of NZ’s rarest forest birds – to hatch and succeed in the area since disappearing from mainland Auckland in the 1870s.”
ONE SAVING TIP
Are those shiny New Year's savings resolutions slipping already? We’ve all been there. The rush of excitement as the New Year hits, the glowing certainty that this is the year we’ll actually transform ourselves into a whole new person, and the lofty goals we set that we hope will get us there.
Then a few weeks tick by, it’s not even February and we’re well and truly off the wagon.
Finance journalist Frances Cook explains how to get back on track.
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