The Front Page

Former KiwiBuild boss Stephen Barclay says he is pursuing a case of constructive dismissal against Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. This comes after the Ministry revealed earlier today that Barclay resigned amid an employment investigation that revealed complaints from employees, contractors and stakeholders regarding his "leadership behaviour". In a statement, again through a private public relations company, Barclay said he was extremely disappointed that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) had divulged details of an employment matter. He said he considered this a breach of privacy and felt he had no choice but to respond.Also today, New Zealanders are sweltering in a heatwave, with record temperatures breaking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are keeping quiet on the investigation into a text allegedly sent from the phone of National MP Sarah Dowie to Jami-Lee Ross. The investigation was apparently sparked by a call to the Crimestoppers hotline. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper says the text contains the words "you deserve to die". There was no immediate show of support for the Invercargill MP.Anne McCracken, who is regarded as one of Dowie's strongest organisers in the electorate, said: "There will be no comment today." Others who were involved in Dowie's 2017 campaign - lawyer Sean Woodward and businessman Jon Turnbull - said they were no longer involved in her party support network. The only current member of her electorate committee to be identified, Murray Halstead, refused to make any comment.Also today, a New Zealand university professor has been sentenced to home detention, for indecently assaulted an 82-year-old dementia patient in a rest home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Racism, sexism, and severe threats of violence have all been uncovered as part of a bullying culture in Fire and Emergency New Zealand. A new report into the organisation says bullying and harassment often came from the very highest levels of the service, including from fire chiefs who called people racial names. The report made 33 recommendations for change. And PM Jacinda Ardern continues making waves overseas, including talking to Google about the Grace Millane case, and pushing the case for the world-first wellbeing budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man jailed for the Ashburton Work and Income double-slaying is appealing his conviction and sentence. Russell John Tully's appeal will be heard at the Court of Appeal in Wellington in March. Tully was found guilty in 2016 of being the masked gunman who stormed the Ashburton centre in 2014 and shot dead 67-year-old receptionist Peggy Noble, from point-blank range and shot 55-year-old case manager Susan Leigh Cleveland three times as she pleaded for her life.The 52-year-old was also found guilty of attempting to murder case manager Kim Adams.He was found not guilty of attempting to murder case manager Lindy Curtis who was shot in the leg and badly injured while hiding under a desk.In 2016, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 27 years - the second highest non-parole period ever handed down in New Zealand history. Throughout the court process, Tully always indicated he would appeal its outcome.Also today, Tensions are rising as residents in a Takapuna townhouse complex grow accustomed to life next to a nine-level apartment block.They've raised a number of concerns including views of a naked man in "full visibility for young children", parking and vehicle issues, light pollution spilling into homes at night, bedrooms and bathrooms without blinds and altercations between the neighbours.Hosted by Juliette Sivertsen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could it be true? Members of the family of British tourists that have caused a storm up and down New Zealand were at Auckland International Airport with luggage this morning. A source has told the Herald that at least four of the group were expected on an international flight due to leave this afternoon. The true identities of the group also came to light today. And New Zealand and Britain have signed an agreement which gives certainty to New Zealand businesses, whatever happens with Brexit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga has been named the eighth most expensive housing market in the world, heading off cities like London and San Francisco. That's according to a global study out today, the 15th annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Study, which measures average house prices against average income. The world's most expensive city is Hong Kong, followed by Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Los Angeles - and then Tauranga.And a new report from Oxfam is warning wealth inequality is "out of control" and doing particular harm to women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two English children will spend their Christmas stranded in New Zealand after a crash that killed one of their mothers and left the other with critical injuries. Six-year-old Ben Sargent and his nine-year-old sister Olivia were holidaying with their mothers Kerry and Jules Sargent in October, when the family were involved in a head-on collision. 42-year-old Kerry, from Gloucester in England, was killed in the crash when the family were travelling near Whangarei. She had been a front seat passenger in one of the two vehicles that rolled. Her partner Jules was rushed to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. While the children were not seriously injured in the crash, Jules' injuries were deemed too serious for her to travel - and faces a lengthy rehabilitation period here in New Zealand. Also today: New Zealand has joined an international chorus, condemning China for cyber intellectual property theft. The US has charged two Chinese nationals with conducting a massive state-sponsored cyber theft, targeting companies and government agencies in at least a dozen countries. The GCSB says some of the thefts target New Zealand organisations.And the Kiwi Christmas tradition, that's news to Kiwis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A damning IPCA report into police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha has called his behaviour inappropriate and unprofessional. But it's not quite bullying. It's led to calls from National for Haumaha to be fired, but that looks unlikely to happen. And a new report finds increasing the price of tobacco works to reduce smoking, but it can result in low income families going without food, or not paying rent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman who sold her teenage daughter to strangers for sex will now serve more time in prison. In March, Kasmeer Lata was jailed for six years and 11 months for dealing in slaves, dealing in a person under 18 for sexual exploitation, and receiving earnings from commercial sexual services from an underage person. The 36-year-old had first forced her daughter to have sex for money with a man on her 15th birthday. She would go on to sell the girl at least 1000 times for sex.At Lata's sentencing - where she was described as "the most despised woman in New Zealand" - Crown prosecutor Natalie Walker called for the offending to be denounced in the most explicit terms. In October, her sentence was appealed by the Solicitor-General. Today, the Court of Appeal released its decision - the appeal was allowed and Lata will serve more time.Also today, former Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox has admitting drink driving, telling police she had 'only' had six glasses of wine earlier in the evening. And, details of the hilarious - and embarrassing - newspaper dating advertisement that's making headlines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A damning report confirms Government agencies used private investigators for spying on New Zealand citizens. It's being called an affront to democracy, and could lead to police action. The report comes from State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes, who details a list of breaches of the State Service Code of Conduct, including potentially illegal recordings of insurance claimants, public sector employees accessing the New Zealand Transport Agency database for private investigation firm Thompson and Clark, paying for informants, and spying on the Green Party and iwi.And voters are going to be asked to pick a side on recreational cannabis use at the 2020 election, in a binding referendum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.