Covid-19: 209 new Covid community cases is highest reported in Omicron outbreak

Can't view this email, [click here]( 05 February 2022 Hi {NAME}, Catch up on today's latest news in your daily briefing. Top Headlines [Large Article Image]( [Covid-19: 209 new Covid community cases is highest reported in Omicron outbreak]( There are nine people in hospital as Omicron spreads across NZ. Meanwhile, Māori are expected to reach 90% coverage for first vaccine doses today. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Large Article Image]( [Police fly helicopter over couple's home to spray three cannabis plants]( A couple were eating dinner when a police helicopter flew over their property and sprayed three cannabis plants the man had grown after an operation to remove cancer. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [The Craigmore sinkholes: How a field that looks like it was hit by meteorites was created in South Canterbury]( When David Bielski took a first look at his new farm, he couldn't quite fathom what his eyes were seeing. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Trelise Cooper burglary: Bottle of water left at crime scene led police to thief]( Former TV worker involved in the burglary of about $750,000 worth of clothes was nabbed by police because of an empty bottle of San Pellegrino. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Kea steals GoPro from hut on Kepler Track, ends up making stunning short film]( While keas are renowned for their cheeky, arguably criminal, behaviour, a family walking the Kepler Track got an amazing gift back after one stole their GoPro. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Covid-19: 209 new cases in the community, 90% of Māori have had first dose]( There are new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and MidCentral. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( National news [Small Article Image]( [Family with babies in arms rescued from floodwaters, while Westport locals refusing to evacuate risk 'becoming a rescue']( A woman and her young children – one in just a nappy – have been rescued from floodwaters north of Westport, while 15 people were airlifted from a rural property after a swollen creek cut off road access. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Doctor who drugged and sexually assaulted patients unrepentant]( David Lim sedated four male patients before indecently assaulting them in a Hastings clinic. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Covid-19: What we can learn about our case numbers so far, and the trends emerging]( Omicron is incredibly infectious and fast moving. So why are case numbers still in the low hundreds? [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( Technology [Small Article Image]( [Grape expectations as Blenheim company gets $600k boost for self-driving tractor]( Smart Machine has designed and built a tractor which use artificial intelligence to do labour-intensive tasks in vineyards. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Shares of Facebook parent Meta plunge 22 per cent on lower earnings, forecast miss]( Shares of the Facebook parent company drop in after-hours trading as higher costs and a weak revenue forecast spooks investors. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Grand theft: The hidden cost of gaming drives up inflation]( Amid all the talk of soaring rents and petrol prices, there's an unexpected and significant new contributor to NZ's high inflation: The cost of computer games. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Facebook's dream of connecting the whole world is dead]( ANALYSIS: For the first time in 18 years, ever since Mark Zuckerberg started it in a Harvard dorm room, Facebook has gone backwards. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Sony WH-XB910N Wireless Headphones: One for the bass junkies]( REVIEW: Bass lovers will love Sony's latest. They produce punchy, powerful lower frequencies, ideal for genres like hip hop, EDM, dance and trap. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Spotify CEO stands behind the way platform has dealt with Joe Rogan controversy]( Daniel Ek defended how Spotify has handled Joe Rogan's spread of vaccine misinformation, which has led to musicians leaving the service. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( Business [Small Article Image]( [Big Mac index shows NZ dollar undervalued against greenback]( The Economist's burger-based index shows the Kiwi dollar is also undercooked against the Euro and British pound. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Individuals' tax bill jumps 6%pa since 2017: 'Bracket creep' gets the blame]( We might be getting pay rises to battle the rising cost of living but that's pushing us into a higher tax bracket. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Mark Zuckerberg's wealth plunges by $46 billion after Meta shock]( A one-day wealth loss ranks as the second-biggest ever caused by a share-price decline, only rivalled by the volatile swings in Elon Musk's fortune. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Reserve Bank says lower interest rates reduce rather than increase inequality]( Central bank admits its modelling does not take into account impact on asset prices but downplays the significance of the omission. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [How Apple’s privacy push cost Meta US$10billion]( A change to iOS has made it harder to sell ads on Facebook and Instagram. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Covid-19: Border reopening a relief, but little hope for tourism revival]( New Zealand needs tourists, but they won't sit in a hotel for 10 days, the industry says. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( Rural [Small Article Image]( [Sanford Bluff factory investment gives confidence to high-end US customers]( Investment from Sanford will create jobs in Bluff and strengthen the company’s targetting of high-end US restaurants and retailers. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Dairy prices hit 8-year high at auction; milk payments to farmers could lift]( As global dairy prices continue to push higher, economists are lifting their forecasts for milk payments to farmers as bad weather and high costs crimp production. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Demand for home kill and retail butcher services rising]( Covid-19 community outbreaks and an increase in lifestyle block numbers have brought in more business for butchers with mobile home kill services. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Horticulture sector: Border reopening comes too late]( Tens of thousands of workers are needed but will not arrive in time. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Demand for ‘extreme aged’ meat is exploding and Alliance is cashing in]( NZ beef is generally aged between two and six weeks, but Alliance Group says its extended period of almost two months increases the meat’s flavour complexity, tenderness and texture. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Pheasants rule roost at Craigmore Station]( Pheasants can be a traffic hazard for farm vehicles at Craigmore Station in South Canterbury. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( World [Small Article Image]( [Captain Cook’s Endeavour at centre of dispute in US and Australia over shipwreck discovery]( A row breaks out between US and Australian experts after the HMS Endeavour shipwreck is 'found' off the coast of Rhode Island. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Moroccan rescuers dig to save boy stuck down well for 2 days]( Rescue workers in the north of the country are frantically digging for a second straight day to reach a 5-year-old boy trapped down a 32m deep well. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Partygate: Senior aides quit in new blow to embattled Boris Johnson]( Four senior staff have quit, triggering new turmoil for the British prime minister in the wake of Downing St parties. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Police department in Georgia, US encourages residents to snitch on their exes for Valentine's Day]( The Rockmart Police Department is promoting its “Valentine’s Day Month-Long Special", an offer that originated from a North Carolina Sheriff's Office. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Covid-19 in Tonga: New community case detected as lockdown extended]( Tonga now has five active Covid-19 cases in the community, with the variant of the virus still unknown. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Kiwi in Ukraine says it's calm near the front line as threat of Russian invasion looms]( War has become much like the weather, NZ photojournalist says: "a topic of discussion but not of much concern". [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( Entertainment [Small Article Image]( [Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke reportedly walk off Masked Singer after Rudy Giuliani is unmasked]( Masked Singer judges Robin Thicke and Ken Jeong reportedly protested Rudy Giuliani's participation in the Fox competition series. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [And Just Like That...'s Sara Ramirez finally addresses backlash to Che Diaz]( Sara Ramirez spoke to the New York Times about her controversial character, Che Diaz, who was nearly passed over for the role of Miranda's love interest. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Netflix unveils 2022 movie slate]( Netflix has unveiled its massive gauntlet of 28 original films set to arrive this year, including movies starring Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy, and more. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Apple's Afterparty, TVNZ's Ragdoll among great shows to watch this long weekend]( Tiffany Haddish heads a terrific comedic ensemble, while the state broadcaster's latest British crime drama is one of the best in years. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Worried Wordle may go behind a paywall? Here are 8 alternatives]( From Taylordle to A Greener Wordle, there are plenty of Wordle offshoots to dive into. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Rihanna breaks silence on pregnancy with A$AP Rocky]( Rihanna, who is expecting her first child with A$AP Rocky, shared a new photo of her baby bump on Instagram on Feb. 2, along side the perfect caption that paid tribute to her growing "gang." [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( Sport [Small Article Image]( [Super Rugby Pacific: Chiefs give Moana Pasifika early wake-up call]( Moana Pasifika have plenty of work to do before the Super Rugby Pacific season starts, but at least they have something to build on. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( ['Obnoxious greed': Phil Mickelson rips PGA Tour as Saudi-backed league tempts]( The PGA Tour's policy regarding media rights has fired up Lefty, who is weighing up his playing options. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Super Rugby: Highlanders edge Crusaders to cap successful Folau Fakatava return]( The highly promising halfback got through 40 minutes of strong work as a Marty Banks penalty got the Highlanders' year off to a winning start. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Live: Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs]( A new era begins as Super Rugby's new additions run onto Mt Smart Stadium to face the Chiefs, a fortnight out from the competition opener. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [New Zealand's Momoka Kobori leads mixed gender golf event in Australia]( Momoka Kobori has won a mixed gender event in New Zealand. Now she is a great chance of doing the same in Australia. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( [Small Article Image]( [Ford Trophy: Jimmy Neesham’s bizarre runout the peak blunder of Wellington Firebirds' weird win]( Jimmy Neesham furious after bizarre run out and it wasn't the only strange happening at the Basin Reserve on Friday. [Share article on Facebook]( [Share article on Twitter]( Stuff daily quiz Have you taken part in today's quiz? [See what it takes to reach the top of the leader board.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Unsubscribe]( [Newsletter Settings]( [Privacy Policy]( [Advertise]( [Feedback](