Phil Goff breaks silence on his Trump remark sacking, a former friend filmed by a predator speaks out after he's jailed, and heavy rain lashes the country.
1 'No regrets': Phil Goff breaks silence on Trump remark sacking
New Zealand's former High Commissioner to the UK Phil Goff says he has no regrets about questioning Donald Trump's understanding of history, in his first public statement since being sacked from his diplomatic role.
Goff said he asked the "serious and important question" about Trump — that led to his dismissal — because silence would have made New Zealand "complicit" in the US president's "disgraceful bullying" of Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelensky.
He defended his actions in a lengthy letter, released to 1News. Goff said New Zealand could not remain silent while the Trump administration made "dishonest" and "untruthful" statements about Russia's invasion.
2 'Awful stories': Ex-friend filmed by predator speaks after he's jailed
A survivor says there were some "awful stories" heard in court as Auckland man Micah Te Ahu Fala was sentenced for using hidden cameras to film women and girls in bathrooms.
Forty-one-year-old Fala was sentenced to four years in prison yesterday on 42 charges against 22 women and girls.
Survivor, who chose to forgo name suppression, Angelene Judge told Breakfast that being in court for the sentencing was "really harrowing".
3 Full impact of Donald Trump's tariffs – 'US to be hit hardest'
Analysis: We now have a clearer picture of Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs and how they will affect other trading nations, including the United States itself, writes AUT economics professor Niven Winchester.
4 Weather: Far North travel warning, boatie rescued near Auckland
Wild weather continues to lash parts of the country following a night of heavy rain.
Orange heavy rain warnings were in place for many regions until 1pm on Friday, with more than a month's worth of rainfall set to hit some areas.
Off the coast of Auckland, a stranded sailor needed to be rescued overnight as conditions on the water worsened.
5 Justice select committee recommends Treaty Principles Bill not proceed
Parliament's Justice Committee has released its report into the Treaty Principles Bill, recommending it does not proceed.
The bill received approximately 300,000 submissions and requests for 16,000 oral submissions. In the end, the committee heard 529 submitters, over 80 hours, during the course of five weeks.
Written submissions were 90% opposed, 8% supportive and 2% unstated. Oral submissions were 85% opposed, 10% supportive and 5% unstated.
ONE COOL LOCATION
Huntly has crafted its own starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster.
The Waikato town has stacked up some screen time in the highly anticipated A Minecraft Movie which hits theatres this week.
Most of the movie was shot in front of green screens at an Auckland studio but some scenes set in the fictional town of Chuglass, Idaho, will be unmistakable to Kiwi audiences as the north Waikato town.
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