New Zealand

Auckland Airport's flight board showed 18 inbound and six departure flights have been cancelled today.

Many are between the city and Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin.

Air New Zealand is offering credit to anyone who wishes to cancel their booking this month.

Flights between Dunedin and Christchurch have also been cancelled.

It is not clear whether the flights were cancelled due to heavy demand adding pressure to Covid-affected crews as the second week of the school holidays begins or weather problems.

Hiko Lynch, 23, was stabbed with a 24-centimetre knife, thrust upwards into his abdomen, which pierced his heart. He collapsed onto the ground where he died, in the early hours of June 20 last year.

The details of that night recorded by police have been released publicly for the first time as the gang member, Auckland man George Junior Pikaahu, 34, originally charged with murder, admitted a charge of manslaughter for his part in Lynch’s death.

The Junior All Blacks scored two tries in the first 10 minutes to lead 14-0.

Down 26-0, things got worse for the Australians when both Jayden Blake and Mason Gordon were sent off within minutes of each other, allowing New Zealand to score two more tries immediately after each infringement, ending the half 40-0.

The onslaught continued in the second half though the Australians did manage to get on the scoresheet.

Australia finished third after Argentina's victory against Fiji.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health, said 522 people were now in hospital, and 10 of those were in intensive care or a high dependency unit.

The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 7951 - up 661 on yesterday.

Today's death toll covers a period back to 1 July.

One person was in their 60s, three in their 70s, five in their 80s and three were aged over 90.

The Ministry of Health announced 9629 Covid-19 cases and 24 deaths, just over 3000 more cases than Monday’s figures.

It also announced new Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 was detected in the community for the first time.

“Both cases had recently travelled from India, where this subvariant has been detected,” the ministry said.

High Commissioner Howell was accompanied by his partner Jenny McGregor.

He said, “It was an honour to meet His Majesty King Tupou VI, and to discuss some of the many  profound connections between our countries. I am excited to be here, and I am looking forward to continuing Aotearoa New Zealand’s partnership with the Kingdom of Tonga.”

Bairstow, whose batting heroics was key to ensuring England won the second test, picked up where he left off from Trent Bridge as he brought up his half century in 30 balls and then took England to victory on the last day with an unbeaten 71, finishing it off with a six.

A 111-run partnership with Joe Root, who was 86 not out, saw England reach the competitive victory target of 296 as they completed their first clean sweep of a home series in over a decade.

The Kiwis beat Tonga 26-6.

Kaniva News reports the Ōtāhuhu Crime Prevention Facebook community page had posted several photos from the scene early this morning.

The photos triggered a public outcry with many describing it as “embarrassing” and “filthy”.

Some commenters on the posts accused some of the Mate Ma’a Tonga supporters saying people have to learn how to celebrate and keep the environments clean.

However, some patriotic Tongans and die hard Mate Ma’a Tonga supporters quickly jumped into action and a clean-up operation started.

The new cases today bring the total number of confirmed cases in New Zealand to 1,301,319.

In today's statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 332 people in hospital with Covid-19, including seven in ICU.

A further six deaths of people with the coronavirus have also been reported today, bringing the total death toll to 1461.

One person was in their 50s, one in their 60s, two in their 70s, and two aged over 90. Five were male and one was female. Three were from the Auckland region, two were from Canterbury, and one was from Waikato.

The women’s test between the Kiwi Ferns and Tonga and the men’s clash between the Kiwis and Mate Ma’a Tonga will attract more than 26,000 fans in Auckland.

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) confirmed on Friday that the occasion marking the return of international league to New Zealand for the first time in nearly two years would be sold out.

Tongans have packed out stadiums with oceans of red since Mate Ma’a’s run to the semifinals of the 2017 World Cup which included their first win over the Kiwis in Hamilton in the pool stages.