Latest from NZ Herald
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Weather: Far North homes without power after severe gales
Several hundred homes in the Far North have lost power after severe gales ripped through the region on Thursday afternoon. Lines company Top Energy said more than 170 customers just south of Cape Rēinga have been cut off. Crews were patrolling the line at Te Kāo and it
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
How to save money on your next ski holiday: expert tips
Renting ski gear saves a lot of money when your kids are still growing, but it can sometime work out cheaper when it comes to baggage costs for adults too. 'To reduce costs for excess baggage, rent,' says Leigh. 'You can save a considerable amount while ensuring you're using up-to-date gear that you don't have to service every winter.' And we're not just talking about skis, either – these days, you'll find businesses that rent ski clothing in most resorts. Bringing your own gear can rack up the baggage costs. Photo / Les Menuires Pour Salon, Les 3 Vallées Bigger isn't necessarily better (but it's almost always more expensive) When it comes to Europe, France's ski resorts are often seen as the holy grail – but they can also be eye-wateringly expensive. If you're stuck on the idea of hitting France's snow-blanketed slopes, a brilliant compromise is to base yourself in a satellite village close to a major ski resort. 'Méribel, in the Three Valleys, is famous for being a world-class ski area, and it's got several satellite villages suitable for various budgets,' says Sarah Searson, managing director at Ski World. 'Les Menuires is another great option – it's ideal for beginners, with affordable options and great access to the Three Valleys.' Skip the popular resorts and try a local one nearby. Photo / Les Menuires Pour Salon, Les 3 Vallées Bring on the bundle Booking a lift pass and ski hire through your tour operator can save you serious amounts of cash. For example, if you book via Ski World, which specialises in European and North American ski holidays, the company guarantees you'll pay at least £50 less than if you booked these extra components yourself. The best bit? Your ski pass will usually be delivered to your chalet or hotel, which means more time on the slopes. Book a ski bundle pass to make your ski days more convenient. Photo / Les Menuires Pour Salon, Les 3 Vallées Think outside the box when it comes to destinations Newsflash – yes, France and Switzerland have some of Europe's most famous resorts, but they're also some of the most expensive. For the ultimate combo of world-class resorts and wallet-friendly prices, consider Italy. 'If you're looking to save money on a European ski trip without compromising on quality, Italy is a top choice,' says Katy Ellis, Head of Freshtracks Holidays at the Ski Club of Great Britain. 'Resorts in the Italian regions of the Dolomites and the Aosta Valley – including Sauze d'Oulx and Gressoney – offer affordable accommodation, great-value food and drink and access to huge ski areas.' Other wallet-friendly ski regions include Austria's Ski Amadé region, which comprises 28 ski areas, many of which offer fantastic value for money. And if you fancy heading even further off the beaten track? 'More adventurous travellers might consider Eastern Europe, where places like North Macedonia can offer excellent value, especially for activities like cat skiing,' says Katy. Consider lesser known ski destinations like Italy, Australia, and Eastern Europe when planning your trip. Photo / Ski Amade Throw out the date-related rulebook 'Absolutely not' was once the standard reply if you were to ask your travel agent or ski hotel whether you could travel on dates outside the traditional Saturday-to-Sunday package. Luckily, there's now much more flexibility, and taking this approach can mean much more bang for your buck. 'My top tip is to travel midweek rather than during weekends, to save on flights and transfers, or to at least consider flexible trip lengths rather than sticking to the traditional seven-night Saturday start,' says Dan Fox at leading tour operator SkiWeekends. Book a midweek trip and skip the weekend buzz. Photo / Tamara Hinson Don't dismiss chalets Don't make the mistake of assuming all ski chalets are ridiculously swanky – yes, there are countless ones with cinema rooms, butler service and private heli-pads, but in recent years it's become easier to find chalets perfect for skiers who prioritise value for money. 'Catered chalets can sometimes appear more expensive upfront, but the price will include meals, drinks and a wonderfully sociable atmosphere,' says Fox. 'In Europe, resorts like Avoriaz, Val d'Isère and Les Gets offer fantastic ski-in/ski-out chalets which are all within easy reach of Geneva - one of the most affordable and convenient entry points for a European ski trip.' Try the chalets in Avoriaz, Val d'Isère and Les Gets for a cheaper accommodation. Photo / Avoriaz Avoid (school) holiday hell If you're not travelling with kids in tow, you'll want to avoid school holidays, when prices rocket. If you're heading to New Zealand's ski slopes, this means avoiding pretty much all of July. If you're considering Europe, January and March are great options. 'You'll avoid the main European school holiday dates and you'll certainly make big savings,' says David Robertson at ski specialists Action Outdoors. 'The best bit? The slopes are much quieter, the snow will almost certainly still be great and you can snag yourself some excellent deals on accommodation.' Block out the expensive school holiday dates on your calendar to avoid higher rates and crowded slopes. Photo / Ski Amade Bring on the picnic While knocking back glasses of fizz on the balcony of a mountain restaurant sounds rather lovely, doing so isn't cheap, which is why we recommend a DIY approach – which is especially easy to champion in Europe. 'Most European resorts, especially those in France, will have a 'salle hors sac' – an indoor picnic room,' says Robertson. 'Wherever you are, eating lunch at a resort restaurant can easily run to over $280 for a family of four, so do what the French do and bring a picnic with you.'
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Blaze at shopping centre in Kut, Iraq, claims 50-plus lives, injures dozens
The cause was not immediately known but one survivor told AFP an air conditioner had exploded. Ambulances were still ferrying casualties to hospitals as late as 4am local time, filling the wards of a hospital in Kut, about 160km southeast of Baghdad. An AFP correspondent said the mall had only opened five days earlier and reported seeing charred bodies at the hospital. The fire has since been contained but firefighters were continuing to search for missing victims. Videos shared on social media showed distraught relatives waiting at the hospital for news, with some collapsing in grief. One man was seen sitting on the ground, pounding his chest and crying out, 'Oh my father, oh my heart'. Dozens of people gathered in front of the hospital checking ambulances as they arrived, and some of them collapsing on the floor in agony. 'We couldn't escape' One of them, Nasir al-Quraishi, a doctor in his 50s, said he lost five family members in the fire. 'A disaster has befallen us,' he told AFP. 'We went to the mall to have some food, eat dinner and escape power cuts at home. 🔴#LATEST — Fire at shopping mall in eastern Iraq kills 50, Iraqi sources report — Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) July 17, 2025 'An air conditioner exploded on the second floor and then the fire erupted and we couldn't escape.' Miyahi declared three days of mourning and said local authorities would file a lawsuit against the mall's owner and the building contractor. An investigation into the cause was under way, the governor said, adding preliminary findings were expected within 48 hours. 'The tragedy is a major shock ... and requires a serious review of all safety measures,' he said. Safety standards in Iraq's construction sector are often disregarded and the country, whose infrastructure is in disrepair after decades of conflict, is often the scene of fatal fires and accidents. Fires increase during the blistering summer as temperatures approach 50C. In September 2023, a fire killed at least 100 people when it ripped through a crowded Iraqi wedding hall, sparking a panicked stampede for the exits. In July 2021, a fire in the Covid unit of a hospital in southern Iraq killed more than 60 people. – Agence France-Presse
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Smokefreerockquest and Showquest regional finals 2025 – Wellington, Otago, Hamilton, TOI Auckland
We've reached the sixth instalment of Smokefreerockquest and Showquest 2025 webisodes – and what a way to round out the regionals. Wellington lit up with a genre-bending mix of disco, soul and jazz, while Otago brought the southern fire with powerhouse performances and polished stagecraft. In Hamilton, Showquest Waikato wrapped
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Christopher Millen sentenced in Tauranga District Court for Waihī machete attack
On Wednesday, having pleaded guilty and accepting an earlier sentence indication, the 48-year-old was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court to six years' imprisonment. 'I'm going to cut you up' The court heard Millen arrived at a Waihī woman's home, yelling for $20 he said he was owed, and banging on the back door. Her visiting ex-partner came to the back door to ask what was going on. Millen pulled out the machete and swung it several times, slicing the man's stomach. The man tried to push him off, but fell to the ground. Millen said, 'I'm going to cut you up', before he struck the man's back with the machete. The sentencing was held in Tauranga District Court. Photo / NZME The man got to his feet and grabbed a branch to defend himself. Millen took off, smashing the window of the woman's Holden Commodore as he fled. The man Millen attacked ended up hospitalised with wounds to his abdomen and back. Five months in the bush After the machete attack, Millen was living rough in the bush in the Athenree Gorge, and 'actively evading police'. Waihī police Detective Glen Ewing said on August 12, 2024, police discovered where Millen was camped out. They knew he was 'armed, highly motivated to evade arrest and in a difficult to access location', so they enlisted the help of Police Special Tactics Group (STG), Waikato Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) and the police Eagle helicopter. The Eagle located Millen's campsite and confirmed he had a long-barrelled firearm. Millen ran from police, discarding the firearm along the way, before STG officers apprehended him 'without incident'. Ewing said the firearm Millen discarded was found with ammunition in the magazine. 'A search of Millen's makeshift campsite, which was heavily camouflaged, located numerous stolen items and further ammunition,' Ewing said. Near where he had set up camp, there was a secluded property owned by a retired couple with a cottage and a main house that was under construction. Between March 24, 2024, and April 19, 2024, Millen visited the property several times, stealing tools, equipment and a sheep, to the value of $3625.59. On April 21, he returned again, causing about $800 in damage to a door and window to get in, and then stealing a .22 calibre rifle and ammunition. On April 27, he came back again, this time with the previously stolen rifle. He broke into a shed and stole $369 worth of tools and equipment. The owner had installed CCTV cameras after the previous burglaries, and these notified him of movement around the shed. He wasn't home at the time but returned to investigate, calling out 'come out, identify yourself' as he got out of his car. He didn't see Millen, who fled into the bush, and it wasn't until August that police were able to find him. At sentencing, Judge Arthur Tompkins gave a 25% discount for guilty plea, but also imposed an uplift for Millen's previous offending. Given Millen's struggles with drug addiction and the role this had in his offending, the judge decided to give a 'small additional discount'. 'But not otherwise given the fact that, in particular, Mr Millen went on the run and was at large for some months,' Judge Tompkins said. 'And given the danger which an offender represents to the community by the possession of firearms.' The judge sentenced Millen to six years' imprisonment on the charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and three burglary charges. On the unlawful possession of a firearm charge, Millen was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, and for the two charges of intentional damage, he was also sentenced to one year's imprisonment, all to be served concurrently. The judge noted the impact the offending had on the retired couple Millen stole from and the damage caused to the home they were building. A reparation order of $2625 was made for the damage caused, and there was an order made for the destruction of the firearm. Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB.
