Auckland

Six other people, including police officers, were injured and the gunman is also dead after the incident at 07:22 (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district.

PM Chris Hipkins said the attack was not being seen as an act of terrorism.

The tournament would go ahead as planned, he said.

The public, he added, could be assured police had neutralised the threat and there was no ongoing risk after the incident on Queen Street.

No political or ideological motive for the attack had been identified, the prime minister said.

PMN News reports over a thousand people crowded into Freyberg Place to see the Afropasifika show, ​curated by EBM Models director Ernestina Bonsu Maro, who is of Rarotongan and Ghanaian heritage.

“It’s about celebrating our cultures, nationalities, our hair, facial features, our different vibes, colours. We just like to pop it out”, she says.

“For them to showcase Pacific wear at an African event - that’s what it’s all about - as we’re all indigenous.”

The police's wastewater testing programme analyses daily wastewater at 10 sample sites across New Zealand.

Newshub reports on average, the programme analyses samples one week of each month for traces of methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. The latest results cover October to December last year (Q4). 

University of Auckland’s Immunisation Advisory Centre medical director Dr Nikki Turner said child immunisation rates in areas like south Auckland remain in a state of crisis an outbreak could have dire consequences.

“Measles can spread like wildfire,” Turner said. “You only get immunity to it through vaccination, or if you’ve previously contracted it.”

“The problem is our childhood vaccination rates have dropped and a lot of other people didn’t receive their vaccinations when they were younger. So there are some real gaps in the community.”

With crowds allowed back to watch performances, around 60,000 people took the opportunity to do this over the four-day event reports Tagata Pasifika. 

And it was a welcome return, says new Samoan stage judge Nafanuatele Lafitaga Mafaufau-Peters, who was thoroughly impressed by the turn out. 

“It’s been amazing,” she says.

“Coming from being a teacher and being on the other side of this whole process I’ve just been so proud of the students in terms of their energy (and) their effort.” 

On Sunday, two teenagers were arrested in the Far North and charged with murder. 

PMN News reports Police have named the man who died as 28 year old local Joshuah Tasi, who was attacked following a car collision on Friday night. 

The NZ Herald reports Tasi was attacked while in his car sustaining stab wounds to his neck, chest and leg.

Bystanders attempted to apply pressure to the wounds, but Tasi died at the scene. 

Local residents gathered on Sunday night for karakia (prayers) and to pay tribute to the victim. 

ASB Polyfest has had a challenging few years. The 2019 festival had its final day cancelled after the Christchurch mosque shootings, the 2020 festival was cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions and last year's festival took place without any crowds.

PMN News reports this year’s festival theme is “Mana Motuhake” which means creating one’s own destiny.  

Event Director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu says: “This can encompass many meanings so each stage will incorporate what Mana Motuhake means to them.  

RNZ reports Cyclone Gabrielle is likely to hit Northland on Sunday before heading towards Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula - which could both get a month's worth of rain in a day.

Auckland's state of emergency has been extended ahead of the forecast extreme weather.

At least four people have died and a state of emergency order continues in Auckland, which on Friday experienced its worst downpour on record.

BBC reports about 350 people needed emergency accommodation, New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.

He added there had been significant damage across Auckland and the North Island.

The newly-appointed PM also highlighted climate change's role in the extreme weather event.

Further downpours overnight led to five more rescues of people trapped by floodwaters and landslips, and a significant landslip in Titirangi.

Chris Hipkins said Auckland has a big clean-up ahead from the torrential rain that began on Friday causing unprecedented flooding around the city.

"And then of course we've got the uncertainty of what the weather's going to do over the next few days still ahead of us ... so it's still a very challenging time for Auckland."