Ben Morgan: Air battles, Belgorod and US grand strategy

Police in Wellington have charged a 27-year-old man for multiple counts of sexual indecency on buses, targeting women traveling alone on the Metlink bus network. The man is set to appear in court next Monday. The victims are receiving support from authorities. Full Article

Ashburton ratepayers face increased costs for water services as the council explores a new management model through public consultation. The preferred option is a stand-alone business unit, with potential for community input to sway the decision. The decision must be submitted to the Government by September 3, with options including in-house management or a water services council-controlled organization. Full Article

Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, where Aotearoa writers and guests share their reading habits. This week, Mairātea Mohi discusses her admiration for Horrible Histories, the importance of fan fiction and indie publishing, and the treasured diary of her whānau's stories. She recalls a mysterious childhood book featuring a character with her name and shares her eclectic reading preferences, from Pacific Arts Aotearoa to Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Lastly, Mohi...

The 100-year-old Raymond Irrigation District in Canada is transitioning from open water races to pipelines inspired by Central Plains Water Ltd in Canterbury, New Zealand, to improve efficiency and sustainability. By learning from CPW's experience, RID aims to implement gravity pressure pipeline systems to reduce energy consumption, enhance water management, and plan for long-term sustainability, aligning with global water management challenges and the need for innovative, forward-thinking solutions. The exchange of ideas between RID and...

Planning consultants Tim Ensor and Gerard Willis testified in the High Court that tangata whenua, especially Ngāi Tahu, hold significant influence over freshwater policy and decisions, emphasizing their involvement in resource consent processes and plan-making. While Ngāi Tahu argued for a new regime recognizing their entitlements, the effectiveness of current processes in ensuring their input was questioned by Ngāi Tahu witness Edward Ellison. Despite examples of influence cited by Ensor, such as membership on committees...

Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be out for up to two months due to a hamstring strain sustained in a recent game against the Roosters. Rocco Berry returns to the team as Tuivasa-Sheck's replacement, with Adam Pompey moving to the wing. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged for the upcoming match against the Tigers, with two additional players added to the extended bench. Full Article