Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The speed and risk from Hurricane Idalia is growing as it approaches Florida's West Coast.

It's expected to wreak havoc on the US state, touching down early tomorrow morning.

Unsurvivable storm surge is predicted to hit parts of the island city of Cedar Key.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says coastal areas are frantically preparing.

"Classes have been cancelled, businesses boarded up, whole towns have just been told to get out of there while you can."

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This is going to sound really harsh, but that Restore Passenger Rail protestor who was put in jail for two weeks yesterday deserved exactly what she got.

I bear no ill will whatsoever to Rosemary Penwarden. She's a mum and grandmother, she seems like a nice lady, she's been nothing but lovely and polite every time she's been on the show and I admire her conviction, in a weird way.

But she and everyone else in that group have been incredibly selfish every single time they glue their hands to the road in rush hour and deliberately stop Wellingtonians from being able to get to work or to medical appointments or to get their kids to school.

What happened yesterday is significant, because the courts have been very tolerant with these protestors and constantly given them another chance. Suddenly, they’ve had enough.

And as far as we can tell, it is the first time a climate protestor has ever been sent to jail in New Zealand.

But these guys have been warned. When they pulled the hand-gluing stunt back in April, one of them landed in front of judge Noel Sainsbury in the Wellington District Court. He warned them that the same rules applied to them as everyone else.

And so one of them got sent home with an ankle bracelet on with the warning that next time, it’s jail.

But – again - the protestors were out doing the same thing yesterday. 

Rosemary herself was pushing it with the law. She's already been charged at least once over the protests, and was let out on bail.

And generally, the conditions of bail are that you don’t do it again, otherwise you’re in the clink. And yet, she was back a week later in April- into a cop car and taken to the station. And then she was back at it again yesterday.

So she has probably breached bail conditions at least once, if not more. 

Absolutely, it is harsh to put protestors in jail. But if you don’t, you run the risk of things escalating to the point the UK was facing recently, where climate protesters were shutting down main roads for 36 hours.

And in the end, they had had enough and sent a Kiwi in London to jail for three years, so two weeks is getting off lightly.

I hope Rosemary getting sent to jail scares these nice protesting people into quitting with the hand-gluing, because jail isn’t nice.

Clearly Rosemary herself isn’t loving it- her lawyer’s launching an appeal already try to get her out of jail and on home D with an ankle bracelet instead.

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Rotorua's mayor has expressed concern over recent attacks, and says at least one incident could have been gang-related.

A 15-year-old girl was assaulted by three other girls outside Rotorua Library in the CBD on Monday afternoon.

This follows a 13-year-old girl being beaten and left bloodied in an unprovoked attack last week.

Mayor Tania Tapsell says she's working alongside the police to devise solutions and prevent similar acts of violence.

"Regardless of this, we should not be having to worry about community safety in our public spaces."

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Pop star Elton John has returned to full health after a slip at his villa in Nice.

The singer was rushed to the Princess Grace Hospital’s centre in Monaco after the fall, where he was checked as a precautionary measure.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says the 'I'm Still Standing' singer has returned to good spirits after the accident. 

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Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

TOP leader Raf Manji is confident he can win the Ilam seat, but the latest Taxpayers’ Union – Curia poll has National's Hamish Campbell leading at 33 percent and Manji on 14. Does Manji really have a hope here?

The National Party is set to release their tax policy tomorrow- what can we expect?

ACT MP Mark Cameron is apologising for calling Jacinda Ardern a 'feckless wench'. Does he deserve the backlash? 

Wellington City Council has imposed some new rules for pet owners. All cats must be de-sexed and dog walkers can expect a $300 fine for not carrying poop bags. Is this realistic?

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Tourism Holdings appears to be on the road to recovery, post-pandemic.

It's reported a near $50-million dollar profit in the year to June's end, a change reversing years of losses because of Covid.

It was bolstered by merging with Apollo Tourism and Leisure.

Chief Executive Grant Webster says this recovery has been faster than the company predicted, but they needed the extra boost.

"We need it, for the New Zealand economy at the moment. Tourism is a good thing, and it's great that it's coming back faster."

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Groundswell's co-founders are gearing up to drive their tractors through the country to protest 'unworkable' Government regulations.

Bryce McKenzie and Laurie Paterson will travel from Invercargill to Auckland on September 22, and speak at Ellerslie Racecourse on October 1.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says the pair plan to rally farmers to get out and vote against a third term of Labour.

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The economy faces another year of tepid growth- and the recession could drag on if Government spending isn't reined in, according to the IMF.

In their latest report, they recommended the Government stop funding cost-of-living handouts, press ahead with fair pay agreements and prioritise climate change-focused infrastructure spending.

BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says targeted, means-tested spending presents a huge challenge for the Government in an election year.

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A supermarket giant says crime has surged in its North Island stores.

Foodstuffs recorded 3900 separate incidents from the start of May to the end of July, a 59 percent year-on-year increase.

Serious incidents including assault, robbery and burglary have more than doubled in the past year and are up 13 percent on the last quarter.

Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says the biggest issue is organised theft, with people stealing products to make money.

"Secondly, it's sadly people with addictions, and they're trying to support that addiction through theft. And then our social media driver, where people are trying to make a hero of themselves by doing some of this stuff."

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Treble Cone skifield is rejecting claims it planned to can a skier's pass because he was coaching friends.

A visitor says he was was approached by staff as he shared tips with two friends last weekend.

He claims the worker said if he came with anyone else, and was seen teaching, they'd explore options with his pass.

Treble Cone Experience General Manager Laura Hedley says a staff member did approach them.

"But no, we weren't going to cancel someone's pass for teaching their friend to ski."

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