The Front Page

A 21-year-old Whakatāne man has been charged with murder, after a man hit by a car in Taneatua died late last week. The charges come after a horror weekend on New Zealand roads, which has left at least six people dead in eight major crashes, and several others fighting for their lives. It has bumped the year's current road toll above last year's, and road safety experts say New Zealand may be on track to have its worst year in over a decade.Also, a meeting of world leaders in Papua New Guinea has highlighted divisions between global powers the U.S. and China, and left New Zealand caught in the middle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police and Customs have found more than 190kg of cocaine in a container of bananas. The discovery in a shipment from Panama is biggest bust of the drug in New Zealand history.The cocaine would have had a street value of $28-36 million. A Sydney man has been arrested and is facing charges relating to trying to facilitate the importation of part of the consignment into Australia.Also, two Year 8 schoolboys are being treated for burns after a small fire broke out in a school classroom on Auckland's North Shore. The fire happened in a classroom at Pinehurst School in Albany.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the country's biggest health initiatives isn't picking up serious problems and could actually widen the rich-poor divide. A Herald investigation has revealed serious concerns about the "before school check", including the perverse possibility it could actually worsen inequality. Auckland, Counties Manukau, and Waitemata DHBs have jointly written to the Ministry's chief advisor on child health, urging a review.And two NZ medical organisations are calling for an immediate ban on the sport of boxing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A touching reunion as a critically ill Napier father was reunited with his daughter at Auckland Hospital. 27-year-old Jarred Thompson was medically evacuated from Fiji to Auckland last night, after falling ill on his one-month holiday to the islands. Thompson had been celebrating the news that he was in remission after going through cancer treatment for the past year when his health took a turn. He was admitted to Lautoka Hospital last Thursday after what started as a headache quickly turned into a "potentially life-threatening condition" as pressure built on his brain.Also, how the humble sausage sizzle has been deemed a threat to shoppers at Bunnings stores - all because of slippery fried onions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the decision looms over what will happen with the Pike River Mine, family members are hoping they'll get re-entry into the drift. Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-Entry Andrew Little has announced the Government has made its decision, and will announce it at Parliament at 7.15 tomorrow morning. The wait means a sleepless night for those who lost their loved ones in the disaster.And sugar babies are warned their 'gifts' are subject to tax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first day of primary and intermediate teacher strikes went ahead today, with tens of thousands of teachers taking industrial action, and nearly half a million students impacted. The majority of primary and intermediate schools will be closed for one day this week, as part of rolling strikes around the country. The union's standing its ground over pay, class sizes, and the sector's ability to recruit new teachers. And churches are being rolled into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the abuse of children in state care. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, of the 400 submissions received on the draft Terms of Reference, including churches in the inquiry was one of the strongest issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man has been charged with kidnapping after holding a knife to a woman's throat in Auckland's Westfield Manukau mall for 1.5 hours. Counties Manukau Area Commander Inspector Adam Pyne says the victim wasn't known to the offender. The knife being held to the woman's throat had a five inch blade. And the Supreme Court rules denying prisoners the right to vote is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shock admission from the Immigration Minister over Karel Sroubek's case. Iain Lees-Galloway has confirmed he took about an hour to decide on the convicted drug smuggler's residency, but he didn't read the whole file. Sroubek has also released his own statement today, in response to the Deputy National Leader telling Parliament yesterday, Sroubek was questioned in prison about the burglary of his ex-wife's home. Also today: flooding, slips and wind gusts have forced road closures in the North and South Islands. Over 800 lightning strikes were recorded in Hokitika in a 20-minute period this morning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A project manager critically injured in a charity boxing match has died. 37-year-old Kain Parsons passed away in hospital today. He was not wearing headgear.Inspector Darryl Sweeney said police were previously aware of the boxing match and are liaising with the event organisers and officials to fully understand the circumstancessurrounding his death.Also today, unemployment levels are the lowest since the global financial crisis in 2008. But will that mean you get a pay rise? The rate is now at 3.9% percent - falling from 4.4% in the previous quarter. But wage growth is subdued.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DHB-employed midwives have voted overwhelmingly to strike, in the most drastic industrial action ever taken by New Zealand hospital midwives. More than 1,100 will walk off the job for two hours, every 12-hour period, across all different shifts, for two-weeks from November 22nd.And new bombshell claims that Czech man Karel Sroubek forced an entire family into witness protection, as a result of criminal behaviour. National Leader Simon Bridges made the claims in Parliament this afternoon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.