Santa parades, rat problems and a parking stoush

If this email is not displayed correctly, [click here]( to view an online version. Grace Millane The trial of the man accused of murdering [British backpacker Grace Millane]( is nearing its end after three weeks of evidence. The Crown claims Grace, 21, was [murdered by a man she met on dating app Tinder]( in December 2018, but the defence argues her death was [an accident](. The accused, 27, who has named suppression, [denies murder]( at a high court trial in Auckland. Both sides closed their cases to the jury on Thursday. The Crown said jurors did not have to be certain the accused intended to kill Grace, and they could still convict him of murder if they were satisfied he took a [risk he knew might be deadly](. They added that his actions and lies following Grace's death "takes us to a compelling case of murder". The defence admits the defendant tried to cover up what had happened but said he did it because he panicked. He reacted badly to an unexpected, unforeseen and unintended death but he is not a murderer, they said. The judge will sum up the case on Friday. SkyCity convention centre fire The massive [SkyCity Convention Centre fire]( has sparked an independent review. Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) has commissioned the [review into its handling of the central Auckland fire](. It follows the independent review into the [Tasman fires](. The blaze erupted on the roof of the unfinished convention centre on October 22 and burned for days, shrouding the city in choking black smoke. The response to the fire has been dogged by criticism. A well-placed firefighting source earlier told Stuff the response was hampered by an [aerial fleet of trucks which was "in tatters"]( due to years of neglect, a claim FENZ strongly rejected. Katie Smart, a senior Auckland firefighter who battled the blaze, told Stuff [morale was low among crews]( on the ground amid a sense they should have been able to extinguish it sooner. FENZ chief executive Rhys Jones said his organisation was finalising the terms of the independent review, but it would not touch on the origin or cause of the fire. kōkako bird [Kōkako nests]( in the Waitākere Ranges in West Auckland have been [hit hard by rats]( after rodent populations in the [area nearly doubled](. All of the kōkako chicks and eggs in three nests inside [Forest & Bird's Ark in the Park]( have been destroyed by predators. That comes despite being under volunteer surveillance and a "ring of steel", which consists of traps every five metres. Waitākere Forest & Bird branch chairperson Annalily van den Broeke said it was a "tragic" start to the [endangered bird's breeding season](. "There are only about 60 kōkako in the Ark and 3600 left in New Zealand, so every loss is worrying. Rats doubled in number in the Ark between February and August, partly because this year was a "mega mast" year and trees were producing exceptionally high amounts of seed, which boosted rodent numbers. Residents can help vulnerable native birds by putting traps or bat stations on their properties, van den Broeke said. Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters](. Eden Park stadium A retired police officer has been battling [Auckland Transport]( for a nearly a year after being [issued a ticket at a rugby game]( – despite apparently parking within the rules. Mark Arrowsmith was cheering on Auckland Blues with wife Christine at [Eden Park]( when they were ticketed at the start of the 2019 super rugby season. As their team suffered an opening game loss to the Crusaders, AT was towing their car, and about 30 others, for allegedly parking on the wrong side of the street. But the couple said they were confused by the fine because they checked the rules before parking and Eden Park's website showed an authorised section on the north side of Altham Ave, which was where they parked. The Arrowsmiths appealed the ticket, but AT declined to change it, claiming they parked in a temporary bus park while a sign was displayed. But the Eden Park website said parking permits would not be required for the event. AT said it couldn't comment as the couple were appealing the matter in court. Titirangi chickens A leafy suburb desperately trying to get rid of its feral chickens [may not be able to do away with all the birds](. Auckland Council and Waitākere Ranges Local Board began the removal of the famed [Titirangi village chickens]( in October with strict orders [not to leave any bird behind](. After five weeks, 183 birds have been captured and taken to be inspected by vets, ready for rehoming. But about 30 of the birds are proving to be "elusive" and are still on the "wanted list". Council head of operational management and maintenance Agnes McCormack said there was a chance the village could still have chickens roaming its streets in the future. "While it is our desire and intent to remove all chickens, this may not be possible," McCormack said. They were open to the possibility the chicken population in the village could grow again. The bid to get rid of the chickens was prompted after it was found they were [partially to blame]( for an [infestation of "rats the size of cats"](. Auckland's giant creepy Santa With just weeks before Santa comes to town, parades are taking place across Auckland to celebrate. Events will feature face painting, food stalls and live music, with the first ones kicking off this weekend. There are events in Onehunga, Helensville, Clevedon, Wellsford and Howick - see our [best picks here](. For those heading to Auckland's largest parade along Queen St this Sunday, it will be the [last time to see Santa towering over the city](. For six decades, the 18-metre high festive icon has towered over downtown Auckland each December. But storing, maintaining and assembling Mr Claus cost too much – more than $200,000 per year – so organisers Heart of the City said it was a "fitting time" for him to take a "well-earned rest". So far, there has been [no sign of a little helper]( to secure the future of five-storey Santa and the position of Auckland Mayor Phil Goff appears in line with many members of the public: fondness for the Santa, but no cash. Will downtown Santa live to see another Christmas? You've received this email because you have opted in to receive Auckland news updates from Stuff Did a friend forward this to you? [Sign up to get Auckland News: In case you missed it]( to your inbox [Unsubscribe]( [Newsletter Settings]( [Privacy Policy]( [Advertise]( [Feedback](