David Seymour's microphone is taken twice during his Waitangi speech, unemployment hits highest since 2020, and a rare but venomous sea snake is spotted on an Auckland beach.
1 David Seymour's microphone taken off him twice during his Waitangi speech
ACT leader David Seymour had his microphone taken from him twice as he spoke at Waitangi today.
Seymour was met with protest as he began to speak, with local women turning their backs on him. On two occasions, his microphone was taken by iwi leader Aperahama Edwards, which was applauded by some of those in attendance.
"You can take away my microphone, but you can't take away an idea," Seymour responded.
2 Unemployment rate rises to 5.1% — highest since 2020
The unemployment rate continues to climb, reaching 5.1% in the December 2024 quarter, according to the latest Stats NZ figures — the highest level since 2020.
It's up from 4.8% in the September 2024 quarter.
3 Trump says he wants the US to take charge of Gaza Strip
US President Donald Trump said he isn’t ruling out deploying US troops to support reconstruction of Gaza and he envisions "long-term" US ownership of a redevelopment of the territory.
"We’ll do what is necessary," Trump said about the possibility of deploying troops to fill any security vacuum. "If it's necessary, we'll do that."
4 At least 10 killed in shooting at Swedish adult education school
Swedish police said at least 10 people, including the gunman, were killed during a shooting overnight at an adult education centre.
The shooting erupted after many students had gone home following a national exam.
Before the latest briefing, police said four of the five people who were shot underwent surgery, including one person who was seriously wounded.
5 Major bank cuts 3-year fixed home loan rate to below 5%
Westpac has cut its 3-year special fixed home loan rate to 4.99% — the first major bank to offer a mortgage rate below 5%.
The bank announced today it would drop 1-year, 18-month, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year for special and standard rates starting Friday.
ONE RARE SNAKE
A venomous sea snake found on an Auckland beach is the first of its species to be found alive in New Zealand in seven years, said the Department of Conservation.
A member of the public contacted DOC after they came across the snake, identified as a blue-lipped sea krait, on a beach while walking their dog in Auckland's Devonport earlier this week.
The last confirmed blue-lipped sea krait found alive in New Zealand and reported to DOC was in the Tauranga Marina in 2018.
ONE RUGBY HERO RETIRES
Former All Blacks prop Karl Tu'inukuafe, who lost over 30kg to achieve his rugby dream — becoming a cult hero in the process — has announced his retirement.
Tu'inukuafe, 31, who was All Black 1171 and played 27 tests, rose from relative obscurity to make the All Blacks in 2018.
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