Chinese visitors Baodi Wu, Huanyan Chen and Guoli Liang sentenced for targeting Auckland, Christchurch residents in blessing scam

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has urged Israel to permit "unfettered access" for humanitarian agencies to Gaza, following a UN-backed report indicating that 500,000 people in the region are facing famine due to Israel's food supply obstructions. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher emphasized that the crisis is entirely preventable and warned of escalating mortality if aid delays continue. Want More Context? 🔎

Argentina achieved a historic victory by defeating New Zealand 29-23 in their first-ever home test match against the All Blacks, significantly impacting the Rugby Championship standings. Santiago Carreras' second-half penalties were crucial, resulting in all four teams having one win each after two rounds of the tournament. Want More Context? 🔎

A man in his 20s was critically injured at Muriwai Beach, Auckland, after a sand dune collapsed while he was digging a hole, burying him headfirst. Emergency services, including the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, responded and airlifted him to Auckland City Hospital in critical condition. Want More Context? 🔎

Social media personality Millie Elder-Holmes is under scrutiny from Internal Affairs for promoting online gambling, with new complaints emerging from followers. This follows a prior $5,000 fine for breaching gambling regulations, and Internal Affairs is currently investigating the additional allegations, according to Director Vicki Scott. Want More Context? 🔎

A woman named Donna, traumatized a year after being attacked by a pack of four pig dogs while walking her own dogs in Tairua, expresses concern for public safety as the owner and dogs remain unrestrained. The incident, which occurred on May 22, left her fearing for her safety and deeply affected by the mauling experience. Want More Context? 🔎

A former NRLW Warriors player, Kath Wharton (nee Keremete), was found unresponsive in her vehicle after taking a nap in an Auckland McDonald's carpark following a long-haul flight from Japan. The coroner confirmed her death on November 21 was due to sudden cardiac arrest, and she had contracted Covid-19 at the time, though it was not a significant factor in her death. Want More Context? 🔎