Shake-up at Health NZ as minister brings back board, Cyclone Alfred looms over Queensland, and Trump changes course on some tariffs.
1 Board to return at Health NZ, minister says, as outsourcing to private sector signalled
The Government will reinstate a board at Health NZ, following last year's appointment of Lester Levy as commissioner, and will outsource more elective surgeries to the private sector.
Health Minister Simeon Brown also revealed a $50 million spend on reducing the backlog of people waiting for elective surgeries by working with the private sector.
"Long term, I want as much planned care as possible to be delivered in partnership with the private sector, freeing public hospitals for acute needs."
2 Spikes fall off police car on Auckland motorway, 7 vehicles damaged
Police have admitted to a "genuine mistake" after a spike strip left on the roof of a patrol car, during an arrest, fell off while driving on Auckland's Southern Motorway this morning, deflating the tyres of seven vehicles.
Inspector Jim Wilson said officers unfortunately left the road spike strip, also known as a Tactical Deflation Device, on the roof of their vehicle.
3 Chris Hipkins outlines Labour caucus reshuffle, gives 'state of the nation' speech
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has revealed a reshuffle of his caucus.
In his State of the Nation speech to the Auckland Business Chamber today, Hipkins outlined the party's focus on jobs, health and homes as it worked towards the next election and beyond.
4 Cyclone Alfred slows, power outages and high winds hit two Australian states
The worst of Cyclone Alfred has yet to arrive, but the impacts are already being felt for many across Queensland and New South Wales.
Over 20,000 properties lost power overnight in south-east Queensland, with 17,500 homes blacked out on the Gold Coast alone. In northern NSW, 10,000 are already without power, which was expected to rise as conditions worsen.
5 Trump changes course, delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada
US president Donald Trump today postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war.
The White House insists its tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl, but the taxes proposed by Trump have caused a gaping wound in the decades-old North American trade partnership.
ONE UNIQUE STORM
Communities in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales have been bracing for the impact of Cyclone Alfred for several days as the slow-moving storm system sat off the Australian east coast.
1News meteorologist Dan Corbett explains what makes this storm different.
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