What you need to know about Auckland's Covid-19 community outbreak
Kia ora koutou. Auckland is expected to be in Covid-19 alert level 4 for at least seven days after Covid-19 was discovered in the North Shore community on Tuesday. It has since been confirmed as the Delta strain of the virus from NSW in Australia. Tests are underway to establish how it got into the community.
There are a number of locations of interest in Auckland and the Coromandel. The list is expected to grow due to there being confirmed cases of community transmission. Read more about the locations of interest here: www.stuff.co.nz...
Free testing for Covid-19 is available across the region. Symptoms of Covid-19 include a new or worsening cough, a fever of at least 38 degrees Celsius, shortness of breath, a sore throat, sneezing and a runny nose, and temporary loss of smell. To find a testing location near you, click here: www.stuff.co.nz...
You can read our live coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak by clicking 'read more' below.
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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By-election for Otara-Papatoetoe area
Just to let everyone know that we have another by-election happening, and here is the reason why. Below are details and dates, so keep an eye on your letter boxes.
The Manukau Court’s Ruling
The Manukau District Court determined that the Papatoetoe subdivision result of the Ōtara–Papatoetoe Local Board election was invalid, ruling that the outcome had been “materially affected” by voting irregularities. Judge Richard McIlraith found that the scale and nature of the irregularities met the legal threshold required to void an election under New Zealand’s local electoral laws.
In his decision, Judge McIlraith stated that the evidence presented — including reports of stolen voting papers, fraudulent use of ballots, and other procedural irregularities — was sufficient to conclude that the integrity of the election had been compromised. The court noted that at least 79 voting papers were identified as having been cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge during a judicially supervised examination of ballot boxes.
While the judge acknowledged that the election had been administered “properly and in accordance with all requirements” by Independent Election Services and the electoral officer, he concluded that the fraudulent activity originated outside the official process and nonetheless impacted the final result to a degree that required the election to be voided.
As a result of the ruling, the court ordered that a new election must be held, with Auckland Council confirming that the fresh poll must be completed by 9 April 2026
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