The week in news, in emoji: Thumbs up to the Wellington supercity and anti-terror legislation.
WHAT HAPPENS IN QUEENSTOWN
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Queenstown police located Pita Wilson, the last of three people they were searching for in relation to a kidnapping investigation, in the Otago town of Frankton on Wednesday. Police had been searching for Wilson, Joshua Veint and Lily Boden since last Friday, after three people were allegedly abducted in the Queenstown area earlier that week.
CAN’T BEAT IT ON A GOOD DAY
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The Local Government Commission endorsed a supercity for the greater Wellington region yesterday. It will include councils in Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Porirua basin, Kapiti coast and Wairarapa, despite opposition from many. Once the draft proposal is made public, it will be open for submissions until early next year, but the decision will almost certainly come down to a referendum.
HUNGER STRIKE
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Convicted murderer Phillip Smith is on hunger strike in protest of his treatment in prison. Smith’s lawyer Tony Ellis told Radio New Zealand that Smith has had his hairpiece, glasses, clothing and access to books, a television and a toilet taken away. He is also not allowed to be interviewed by the media, after he fled the country while on temporary release from prison.
ANTI ANTI-TERROR
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The Government’s anti-terror legislation should pass, after being watered down by the select committee to limit the period surveillance without a warrant would be permitted. National and Labour have struck a deal, but the Greens and New Zealand First oppose it. The bill is expected to be passed under urgency next Tuesday.
COLD SHOULDER
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The country is in the midst of its coldest start to a summer since 2006. MetService said temperatures in Auckland and Hamilton peaked at about 17°C this week, while Wellington and Christchurch had it even worse, averaging about 14°C. But it shouldn’t last much longer, with temperatures expected to pick up in the next couple of days.
