Green Party MP resigns; Major shake-up of Auckland Transport announced; Father's Day weather revealed.
1 Green MP Benjamin Doyle resigns from Parliament
Green Party list MP Benjamin Doyle has announced they will be resigning from Parliament.
In a statement released at 4pm today, Doyle — who uses they/them pronouns — said they had been on a "journey of healing" in recent months.
2 Major shake-up of Auckland Transport confirmed
A major shake-up of Auckland Transport has been confirmed, with its core focus to be delivering public transport services for the city.
The changes, which had previously been signalled, will make Auckland Council responsible for all transport policy and planning work, the road controlling authority, and deliver transport capital projects while maintaining transport infrastructure.
3 Audio from plane cockpits as China conducted live fire drills in Tasman Sea
Newly released audio has revealed the moment a pilot informed air traffic control that Chinese warships were conducting live fire drills in the Tasman Sea.
The transmissions, obtained by 9News, were from February, when a fleet of Chinese Navy vessels was conducting exercises in international waters between Australia and New Zealand.
4 Government outlines plan to help rough sleepers into social housing
The Government plans expanding the support available for people sleeping rough and helping them into social homes as the country grapples with a homelessness crisis.
The announcement followed the release of the Homelessness Insights Report, which revealed a sharp increase in people living without shelter, including those sleeping in cars and on the streets.
5 What to expect from the weather this Father's Day weekend
MetService says to expect "yo-yoing temperatures" typical of spring across the country this weekend.
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said: "People shouldn't expect the weather they've got on Saturday morning to last throughout the weekend."
Watch: Moment $1.6 million yacht capsizes after being launched on maiden voyage
The owner, captain and two crew members swam back to land as the ship sank.
ONE BIG CELESTIAL MONTH
Early risers across New Zealand are in for a celestial treat on Monday with a total lunar eclipse set to paint the Moon a deep red in the morning sky — the first of two eclipses this month.
On September 8, the Moon will slip into the Earth's shadow, creating a lunar eclipse visible across Aotearoa.
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