22 of the best lifestyle and entertainment stories of the year so far

A teacher at Taipa Area School, Jessie Moran, is facing eviction from a board-owned house to accommodate a new principal, despite disputing the tenancy terms. Although the Tenancy Tribunal has ruled partially in her favor, she is still required to vacate the property. More Context

The song Four Seasons in One Day by Neil Finn was inspired by Melbourne, not Auckland, despite the cities' similar weather patterns. Recently, New Zealand's Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced new regulations allowing solar panel owners to send a broader range of unused power to the national grid, aiming to boost Auckland's low solar adoption rate of just 2%. More Context

Laura Taylor, a brave nearly four-year-old from Central Hawke’s Bay, has amassed 1,420 beads of courage throughout her battle with terminal high-risk neuroblastoma. The beads symbolize her challenging journey, including 173 nights in the hospital and 258 blood draws, as described by her mother, Emma Taylor, highlighting the depth of their experience. More Context

Investigators are analyzing the testimony of Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash that killed over 240 people. Ramesh reported flickering cabin lights and a lack of altitude gain shortly before the aircraft crashed, indicating a potential power failure related to the engines. More Context

Adam Vardey, a 42-year-old man from Porirua, passed away swiftly after being diagnosed with cancer just seven weeks prior; he reportedly waited for his family to leave the room before quietly slipping away. His wife, Zoe Vardey, highlighted the significant impact he had on their community, noting that he influenced many more lives than he realized. More Context

Tingjun Cao was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao in June 2023, with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years and six months. During the sentencing, which was disrupted by Cao's behavior, Bao's family shared emotional statements about their profound loss and grief. More Context