Holiday Breakfast

Frustration is running high as family-owned business Glengarry Wines has been victim to more than 40 ram raids in the 18 months to November.

The business has also been targeted by the same group of thieves twice in the same week.

Glengarry Wines general manager Liz Wheadon says the continued break-ins have an emotional cost to everyone working there.

Wheadon questions how this can keep happening, while it looks as though those who are doing it aren't having anything happen to them.

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One of Australia's 'ISIS brides' has been charged and appeared in court for entering ISIS-controlled areas of Syria.

Three months after four women and thirteen children were returned to Australia from a Syrian refugee detention camp, Mariam Raad was arrested Thursday after new evidence confirmed she had willingly entered ISIS-run regions of Syria.

Australian authorities confirm that Mariam Raad was aware that her husband was involved with ISIS, and it was alleged she entered the region to join her husband, knowing his role within the Islamic State as a recruiter.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says she's due to make another court appearance, where she's expected to be sentenced.

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Republican and House leader Kevin McCarthy is a history maker, but not as he would have liked.

The Californian and Donald Trump ally - has lost seven rounds of voting for the US House speakership, after several Republicans voted in opposition to the nomination.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold says there hasn't been multiple votes for the position in a century.

He says back in 1923 it took nine votes for an election, but 1855 is the benchmark when it took 133 votes and two months to choose a Speaker.

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The next stop on ZB's Summer with the Mayors roadtrip is New Zealand's windy capital, Wellington.

The capital has a lot to offer travellers, including the Zealandia ecosanctuary, Te Papa museum,  New Zealand's National War Memorial, the Dowse Art Museum, and the scenic walking tours through the botanic gardens.

Wellington will also be hosting plenty of events in the coming weeks, with Jimmy Carr set to tour later in January and Ed Sheeran's concert tour arriving in February. 

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says Wellington is well-known for the nature and arts scene it offers.

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25-year-old Dylan Schmidt first came to attention following his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Since then, the young athlete has had a successful 2022, rounding out the year with his first trampoline world title in November.

Despite the successful conclusion to the the year, Dylan Schmidt still faced a few disappointments throughout 2022 as well.

"I had the top score going into the finals and pretty much winning in the event, and then not even reaching the podium in the finals three times in a row this year, which was pretty frustrating. But I guess I just kept working at it and chipping away and managed to get the job done."

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A legal expert believes New Zealand's reputation has taken a hit after a long running legal battle will see a world kick boxing champion finally deported.

NZ Herald's Open Justice reveals 41-year-old Karel Sroubek  will be exiled in March. The Immigration and Protection Tribunal has sealed the Czech national's fate after years of back and forth.

Queen City Law Managing Director Marcus Beveridge says the right decision has been reached but it took a long time.

Sroubeck entered New Zealand 20 years ago, using another person's passport.

He says Sroubeck shouldn't have been at liberty to game the system, and it makes New Zealand look like a banana republic.

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Southland Charity Hospital is almost ready to open its doors to the public.

The hospital in Invercargill will offer services for those who can't afford private care or to wait for public treatment.

It will initially provide colonoscopies, but other free services will be made available in time.

Southland Charity Hospital Board Member Melissa Vining says it's a real achievement , but it's devastating there's such a need for it.

It's expected the hospital will open mid-year.

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A drenching overnight will see widespread disruption today for those in the Coromandel region.

Civil Defence is warning campers across the Coromandel Peninsula, that flooding, slips and road closures could leave them isolated.

Heavy rain warnings are in place for the region until late tonight, and roads near Whitianga and further north have already been shut.

Thames-Coromandel mayor Len Salt says more than 150 millimetres has fallen in the ranges, with slips and road closures expected to continue.

"We'd really like people to stay safe, find somewhere warm and dry, don't try and travel, and just keep themselves safe during the day."

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A public health expert says New Zealand should be more worried about visitors from the U.S, as a Covid-19 super-variant surges through that country.

Our Government has chosen not to follow the lead of other western nations in requiring pre-departure tests for people arriving from China. Instead, travellers are encouraged to be tested if they arrive here with symptoms.

Auckland University public health associate professor Sir Colin Tukuitonga says more focus should be on the new XBB.1.5 variant prevalent in the U.S.

He says it's fast-spreading and it's now causing three quarters of all cases in New Jersey, New York and New England.

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Rishi Sunak is trying to get the UK public on side as he enters the new year.

In his first major speech of 2023, the UK Prime Minister has outlined five promises to voters.

These include halving inflation, cutting NHS waiting lists, and passing new laws to stop migrant boats from entering the country illegally.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's off the back of bad opinion polls for the Conservatives following the fallout of Liz Truss' resignation.

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