EVs selling ‘off the boat’ before they even arrive in NZ

Electric cars are being sold before they even reach New Zealand shores, as demand for EVs surges on the back of rapidly rising fuel prices.

Dealers told 1News some cars are now effectively “sold off the boat”, with buyers locking in purchases before vehicles arrive in the country.

Latest figures from the Ministry of Transport confirmed the scale of the trend – new and New Zealand-new registrations of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles hit 1033 in the week ending March 22, compared to just 225 in the same week last year.

That’s the strongest weekly result since the Clean Car Discount ended at the start of 2024 – with EVs and hybrids making up one in five new registrations.

One EV buyer, Phillip Smith, told 1News he hadn’t planned on buying a car when he stopped by a dealership but says he quickly changed his mind.

“I simply was driving past, saw them advertising EVs, drove in, bought it just like that,” he said.

With petrol prices climbing, Smith said he didn’t want to delay the decision.

Phillip Smith said rising petrol prices influenced his decision to buy an electric vehicle (Source: 1News)

“I just didn’t want to be slow at making the right decision for the security of getting where we need to go.”

Dealers say that kind of urgency is becoming more common with the pace of sales has accelerated sharply in recent days.

That surge is now hitting supply.

‘Trying to get them in’

Dealers say vehicles on the showroom floor are already sold with many from the next shipment also secured before they arrive in the country.

Geary Sutjahjo, an EV specialist at GVI Kiwi, said: “We’ve sent two of our buyers to Japan. We’re trying to get them in as quick as possible for everyone.”

Staff say enquiry levels are now around five times higher than usual with most customers walking in either ready to buy or actively searching for an electric vehicle.

“Enquiry on EVs is exponential,” Sutjahjo said, with buyers increasingly arriving ready to purchase.

“They’ve done their research and they basically just pick out the car.”

Other dealers told 1News they’re seeing similar trends, with stock moving faster than it can be replaced.

Kia General Manager Tim Owen said there was only one EV left on the floor, with customers also largely buying from their next shipment. “The question from customers is, what EVs do you have?”

One customer, Richard Hanson, arriving to pick up his new EV – one of the last on the lot – said: “We brought forward the decision because of what’s happening worldwide.

“We’ve gone from rolling up to the petrol pump for $400 to Charging our EV at home for free.”

Banks seeing spike in demand

The surge isn’t just being felt on car lots, banks say they’re seeing it too.

Westpac said EV loan applications have roughly doubled in the past two weeks.

BNZ says interest in its green lending products has also jumped, with views of its “Better Future” home loan top-up offer up 66% compared to a month ago.

Around half of those top-ups are currently being used for electric and hybrid vehicle purchases.

The bank also reported a rise in business lending, with 50% more green loans drawn down in March compared to the monthly average earlier in the financial year – although it says it’s too early to directly link that increase to global events.

ANZ says it has seen a slight increase in customer enquiries in recent weeks for its Good Energy Home Loan, which can be used for electric vehicles, chargers and home upgrades.

The bank says more than 21,000 households have used the loan since its launch in 2022, with more than $850 million in lending drawn down.

‘Like Covid all over again’

Maurice Wells from Electric Bike Team says the surging demand feels “like Covid all over again”. (Source: 1News)

For those unable to secure an electric car, some commuters are turning to alternatives including e-bikes.

Retailers say demand there is also surging.

“It’s been really busy here. It’s feeling like Covid all over again,” said Maurice Wells from Electric Bike Team.

Johannes Jacobs is one of many Aucklanders making the switch.

“I’m buying the bike because I think, I’m sick and tired of sitting in traffic in Auckland.”

He now commutes from Hobsonville into the city by e-bike and says the savings quickly add up.

“For me, it’s $25 a day. You extrapolate that out over a year, a month, a week – it’s a lot of money.”

It’s a change he says he’s already enjoying.

“I go past three petrol stations and have a smile on my face… knowing I’m not the one having to pay those costs.”

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Electric cars are being sold before they even reach New Zealand shores, as demand for EVs surges on the back of rapidly rising fuel prices.

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Dealers told 1News some cars are now effectively “sold off the boat”, with buyers locking in purchases before vehicles arrive in the country.

“},{“_id”:”NJFQEXRZSZHPNIZNFLFX5HJAMM”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Latest figures from the Ministry of Transport confirmed the scale of the trend – new and New Zealand-new registrations of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles hit 1033 in the week ending March 22, compared to just 225 in the same week last year.

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That's the strongest weekly result since the Clean Car Discount ended at the start of 2024 – with EVs and hybrids making up one in five new registrations.

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One EV buyer, Phillip Smith, told 1News he hadn’t planned on buying a car when he stopped by a dealership but says he quickly changed his mind.

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“I simply was driving past, saw them advertising EVs, drove in, bought it just like that,” he said.

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With petrol prices climbing, Smith said he didn’t want to delay the decision.

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“I just didn’t want to be slow at making the right decision for the security of getting where we need to go.”

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Dealers say that kind of urgency is becoming more common with the pace of sales has accelerated sharply in recent days.

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That surge is now hitting supply.

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Dealers say vehicles on the showroom floor are already sold with many from the next shipment also secured before they arrive in the country.

“},{“_id”:”FKHN72L345C3BEZZ6MDEXDYSAI”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Geary Sutjahjo, an EV specialist at GVI Kiwi, said: “We’ve sent two of our buyers to Japan. We’re trying to get them in as quick as possible for everyone.”

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Staff say enquiry levels are now around five times higher than usual with most customers walking in either ready to buy or actively searching for an electric vehicle.

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“Enquiry on EVs is exponential," Sutjahjo said, with buyers increasingly arriving ready to purchase.

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“They’ve done their research and they basically just pick out the car.”

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Other dealers told 1News they’re seeing similar trends, with stock moving faster than it can be replaced.

“},{“_id”:”3GOU6W664VD6ZD5XF4Q3JUODUU”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Kia General Manager Tim Owen said there was only one EV left on the floor, with customers also largely buying from their next shipment. "The question from customers is, what EVs do you have?"

“},{“_id”:”HRGOUWNHUBFUXOLTW2Z27CTZHY”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

One customer, Richard Hanson, arriving to pick up his new EV – one of the last on the lot – said: "We brought forward the decision because of what's happening worldwide.

“},{“_id”:”2BOQPOBDIJDRLFI3A73SU3PEZI”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

"We've gone from rolling up to the petrol pump for $400 to Charging our EV at home for free."

“},{“_id”:”F2UVKNR7ZVFXPFX7IPFFFFE3ZQ”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Banks seeing spike in demand”},{“_id”:”EWLP2TMVSJAODN6SCERA7VUATU”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

The surge isn’t just being felt on car lots, banks say they’re seeing it too.

“},{“_id”:”HWTOECVPOJGWNA57F5JSTAGP2Q”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Westpac said EV loan applications have roughly doubled in the past two weeks.

“},{“_id”:”ZBUN5BGGCNGNPPMYHRV53FPFOE”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

BNZ says interest in its green lending products has also jumped, with views of its “Better Future” home loan top-up offer up 66% compared to a month ago.

“},{“_id”:”AHWCTB5W3RGM3NUG3UAECBFS6A”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

Around half of those top-ups are currently being used for electric and hybrid vehicle purchases.

“},{“_id”:”MW5UEIRJAFEJ3JY4LPQHJ4LM7U”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

The bank also reported a rise in business lending, with 50% more green loans drawn down in March compared to the monthly average earlier in the financial year – although it says it’s too early to directly link that increase to global events.

“},{“_id”:”I2VJFKDNE5CMVGYARTGBWX4NOE”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

ANZ says it has seen a slight increase in customer enquiries in recent weeks for its Good Energy Home Loan, which can be used for electric vehicles, chargers and home upgrades.

“},{“_id”:”3C4RZLYLX5CHVEFJGGPUSRCSAI”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”

The bank says more than 21,000 households have used the loan since its launch in 2022, with more than $850 million in lending drawn down.

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For those unable to secure an electric car, some commuters are turning to alternatives including e-bikes.

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Retailers say demand there is also surging.

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“It’s been really busy here. It’s feeling like Covid all over again,” said Maurice Wells from Electric Bike Team.

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Johannes Jacobs is one of many Aucklanders making the switch.

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“I’m buying the bike because I think, I’m sick and tired of sitting in traffic in Auckland.”

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He now commutes from Hobsonville into the city by e-bike and says the savings quickly add up.

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“For me, it’s $25 a day. You extrapolate that out over a year, a month, a week – it’s a lot of money.”

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It’s a change he says he’s already enjoying.

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“I go past three petrol stations and have a smile on my face… knowing I’m not the one having to pay those costs.”

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Record-breaking football star Chris Wood didn't always stand out on the field but his passion was there from the beginning. And so, discovers Gill Higgins, were the people he needed to nurture it.

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A life-size poster of a goal-scoring Chris Woods hangs in the corridor of the changing rooms at Onehunga Sports Football Club. This is the club where Wood, at just two-years-old, watched as his Dad Grant and his uncles fought it out on the muddy pitches.

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The problem was, even as a toddler, Wood thought he could join in and would run onto the pitch with the teams of grown men. His mum, Julie Wood, still laughs at the memory. “Sounds like abuse but I did dislocate his shoulder twice by grabbing his hand to pull him back. In the end I had to put him in dungarees so that I could grab the back of those to keep him off the pitch.”

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The family were very involved in the club. Julie remembers just how all-consuming it was. “I was treasurer, Grant was secretary, we ran the bar, I did the cleaning.”

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In other words, Wood grew up immersed in grassroots football. The kind run by people who stack chairs, wash uniforms, pour drinks, mark fields and keep community clubs alive for the next generation.

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At age four, Wood, along with older sister Chelsey, joined a team and never looked back.

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Football became his obsession from that young age through to now as a 34-year-old striker for English Premier League club Nottingham Forest, and as captain of the All Whites.

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But if you think the X factor must have been apparent straight away, think again. Wood’s parents and others at the club say there was no neat, early script announcing he would become New Zealand’s greatest ever men’s goalscorer. No one was standing on the sidelines declaring a future star had arrived.

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Club stalwart Bill Raffles was managing teams when Wood first started to play. I asked him if he thought Wood would be a star. He’s not quite sure how to answer – “It’s hard to say really” – but then goes for the direct approach. “At that age, he wasn’t a class player as such.”

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Grant offers an assessment many young players and parents may find reassuring. "When they’re young, you just don’t know. It’s like juggling a ball, a lot of people say if you can juggle a ball on your feet, you can do really well, but when Christopher was young he couldn’t juggle.”

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For all the mythology that builds around elite athletes, there are a few key factors that stand the test of time: determination, environment and love of the game.

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As Raffles puts it, “some are slow developers, but you could see Wood was determined about what he wanted to do.”

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There were also key influences at the right moments. One of them was former All White Wynton Rufer, whose academy gave Chris and sister Chelsey another pathway to pursue their football ambitions. Julie remembers asking Rufer whether all the time, money and training were worth it.

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Rufer told her it was impossible to know, then added that footballers needed more than raw ability: they’ve got to be the whole package, to be able to listen to the coach, and be dedicated. Chris could listen. Chris was dedicated.

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Then came another formative chapter when the family moved to Cambridge. There, coach Mike Groom, another former All White, introduced a radically different flavour of football.

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“I was running a samba-style football school that had, at its essence, a Brazilian flavour,” he says.

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This was not football with rigid systems and shouted instructions. It was movement, rhythm, joy and improvisation. Julie remembers, “he had music playing all the time, trying to get children to free up their hips because we’re quite rigid here in New Zealand”.

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The sessions were fast, technical and fun. “So we would play futsal fast … quick futsal with quick movements, quick speed,” Groom says.

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Grant saw the value in that instantly. “If kids aren’t enjoying it, there’s no point, so it’s got to be fun the whole time.”

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Chelsey, who built her own football career and played at two Under-20 World Cups, remembers those sessions as tough but exhilarating. “They were always so hard so you would come off sweaty but happy,” she says.

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And like many siblings, she also remembers the small personal bargains that helped shape those early years. She was the only girl at those sessions, so she struck a deal with her brother, telling him, “I’ll give you a dollar if you be my partner”.

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For all the stories about elite sport being ruthless and individual, the making of Chris Wood sounds deeply collective. A sister beside him. Parents ferrying children to trainings. Volunteers keeping the club running. Coaches trying to spark expression.

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But as time wore on, something unmistakable became apparent in Wood himself. Groom saw it clearly. “He just wanted to score goals, that was part of his DNA, you know, he had the instinct that you couldn't coach. He just knew. He just could sense it.”

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Watch this story on TVNZ+

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That instinct would carry him from local school competitions to Waikato men’s teams and on to the much-revered English Premier League. He was still just a teenager when he signed with Midlands club West Bromwich Albion. He got to play in his first Fifa World Cup, at the tender age of 18.

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It was a swift move from over-enthusiastic toddler to being the face on the wall inspiring the next generation. But the people who influenced him believe those early years were the best start. As Groom puts it, “so much goes back to childhood, you know”.

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Both the FIFA Series this weekend and the FIFA World Cup in June and July will be available to watch on TVNZ+

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A man accused of overseeing a grandfather's mistaken identity kidnap and murder has been arrested in an early morning raid as police vow to hunt down more suspects.

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The 23-year-old was arrested in his underwear at his residence in Seven Hills, in western Sydney, on Wednesday, almost six weeks after Chris Baghsarian's death.

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The 85-year-old widower died after being abducted from his Sydney home before dawn on February 13 in a case of mistaken identity.

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The arrested man was charged with aggravated kidnapping and murder.

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"We'll allege he facilitated and recruited others to help in the kidnapping and detention of Mr Baghsarian," Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks told reporters.

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"We'll also allege he arranged people to dispose of Mr Baghsarian's body."

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A search of the home allegedly uncovered a pistol, a dedicated encrypted communication device and a substantial amount of illicit drugs.

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A woman, also 23, was arrested alongside the Seven Hills man but was not believed to be connected to Baghsarian's death.

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She was charged with breaching an apprehended violence order.

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The arrests come nearly a month after two other men – Gerard Anthony Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24 – were charged over their role in the incident.

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Investigators believe Baghsarian was killed at a makeshift stronghold in Dural, in Sydney's outer north, before his body was dumped on the night of February 14 near a golf club in Pitt Town, a 30-minute drive away.

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His remains were found 10 days later.

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Authorities believe the intended target for the abduction was a relative of Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, who lived on the same street as Baghsarian.

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Police suspected the businessman's relative was to be kidnapped in hope of a ransom being paid, with the kidnappers initially demanding AU$50 million (NZ$60 million).

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The 23-year-old man is alleged to be visible in two sets of CCTV vision released by police, and is alleged to be seen with the torch on his phone lit in one clip.

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Neither Andrews nor Stevens was believed to be shown in either piece of footage, and Marks said half a dozen people could still be at large.

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"We believe up to nine people were involved in this … we will continue the investigation to identify [them]," he said.

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The man arrested on Wednesday was not believed to be the very top of the hierarchy, but arranged multiple elements of the kidnapping, Marks said.

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Police allege he was present during the kidnapping and the transportation of Baghsarian to the Dural stronghold and directed others to dispose of his body.

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It is alleged the man is well-known to both police and one of the men arrested last month.

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He is due to face court on Thursday morning.

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Marks urged people to contact police if they could help investigators identify any of the other people visible on CCTV.

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Baghsarian's family described the harrowing ordeal of the kidnapping as a nightmare, remembering him as a devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather.

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We are now more than three weeks into the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has grown to engulf much of the Middle East. There are few signs the conflict will slow down or stop anytime soon.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”ZH4BQZVWIRBFBLIPLADFZQHD3Y”,”content”:”

By Steven Leib for The Conversation

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”TMRX2DWKIVHDHCRG3357ISZGQI”,”content”:”

The situation has upended air travel. Missile and drone strikes have affected major airports, key routes through the Middle East have been shut down and the cost of jet fuel has shot up.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”6CJWRR4DYNDAHBGVKDKFHGC5IA”,”content”:”

For airlines, these factors mean higher operating costs and reduced capacity. For many travellers, that means fewer options and higher prices.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”ODKDVJSYMZAT5NC73X7OOMARCQ”,”content”:”

Some travellers may be in a position to revise, delay or cancel upcoming travel plans. But many others who need to fly for work or personal reasons face high costs or may even be considering complex, unorthodox routes.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”HQBRACEIZVFJZLC5U5DEDHPIUU”,”content”:”

There are some important implications for how global air travel functions, right now and in the future. But there are also some general practical tips for ordinary travellers to help navigate the uncertainty.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”FHMV2KNNJREKTNKS5MHGLA6SOQ”,”content”:”Jet fuel costs soar”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”7HOSGBALLVE5JAR6EVBBJRUCP4″,”content”:”

For virtually every airline in the world, fuel and labour represent the two highest costs. Since the beginning of the conflict, severe energy market disruption means the average jet fuel price has nearly doubled, with little indication relief is on the way.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”DDGWOQL65VCBXCAAZLMDMQDSJU”,”content”:”

And it’s possible the global energy market crisis could escalate further, as gas plants and gas fields in Qatar and Iran come under attack.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”PUVVNPLQ2RHQJJ4H5MKGYMUAGY”,”content”:”

Right now, because of the increase in fuel prices for many airlines, jet fuel has likely surged to become the number-one cost (if it wasn’t already).

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”DVAGOUIMA5FB7NMZTBFLDBNYU4″,”content”:”What’s happening with airfares?”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”X5FSBPODCZDTBDHRTQRQMNUQW4″,”content”:”

Fuel costs aren’t the only factor. For Australians and New Zealanders looking to travel to or through the Middle East, the removal of millions of airline seats from flight schedules has pushed serious demand onto other routes.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”ETPPT4PLIRHWHFHM34ETTEEVGM”,”content”:”

Unsurprisingly, many major airlines have hiked their international fares significantly. And they may go up further still. Qantas, for instance, this week said it would review its international airfares every two weeks.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI”,”additional_properties”:{“fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI.jpg?auth=a8d6e622fe8af89eecb6cf175830fa91c9719e560c874a94c75bbe2366510ae5″,”galleries”:[],”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”originalName”:”Qantas_in_Wellington.jpg”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI.jpg”,”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI.jpg?auth=a8d6e622fe8af89eecb6cf175830fa91c9719e560c874a94c75bbe2366510ae5″,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI.jpg?auth=a8d6e622fe8af89eecb6cf175830fa91c9719e560c874a94c75bbe2366510ae5″,”restricted”:false,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI.jpg?auth=a8d6e622fe8af89eecb6cf175830fa91c9719e560c874a94c75bbe2366510ae5&width=300″,”version”:1,”firstPublishedDate”:”2025-05-26T00:53:22.118Z”},”address”:{},”alt_text”:”Qantas said it would review its international airfares every two weeks.”,”auth”:{“1″:”a8d6e622fe8af89eecb6cf175830fa91c9719e560c874a94c75bbe2366510ae5″},”caption”:”Qantas said it would review its international airfares every two weeks.”,”created_date”:”2026-03-25T17:00:46Z”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Wellinton Airport”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”771982d5-5219-4e2a-ae8c-98de5acc01cd”},”focal_point”:{“x”:1385,”y”:911},”height”:1753,”last_updated_date”:”2026-03-25T17:00:46Z”,”licensable”:false,”owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”source”:{“name”:”Supplied”,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”},”edit_url”:””,”system”:”photo center”},”type”:”image”,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/GKA7FX65Q5FP3MZEWH6WPQUCQI.jpg”,”version”:”0.10.9″,”width”:3117},{“_id”:”RBCEZJ3LB5DONEGR7XDGSGBKDM”,”content”:”

Some tickets have appeared at an extraordinarily high price. Cathay Pacific attracted attention for advertising business class tickets from Sydney to London (via Hong Kong) for close to A$40,000 return.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”DHKLVHT4NJBFPO67DBO3E2J5PA”,”content”:”

This is obviously very expensive. However, it is a natural result of the way most airlines use “dynamic pricing”. In essence, airlines are trying to identify (typically by analysing your flight searches) the highest price you’re willing to pay, so they can sell you a ticket at that price.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”KQ3YSJDWCZBABPTSCFH6ZOO5HA”,”content”:”

In a crisis, some might see this as taking advantage of vulnerable passengers. But airlines could argue the system ensures there is a seat there for someone who desperately needs it.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”L7AJIWYTQ5HZPBR2ZT5XDKKJSY”,”content”:”

Unfortunately, they rely on the price consumers are willing to pay to demonstrate that level of “need”.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”DMQLEOGOJVDOLESNGJWYRCSTZU”,”content”:”Stuck in a holding pattern”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”YUT5FFNRCRFBDAXFEDYWYGE52Y”,”content”:”

More broadly, the conflict has dramatically altered airlines’ ability to predict their costs. That’s a problem, because seats are usually for sale up to nearly a year in advance.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”YJRLNQ2D4FBT7NZAJ6FUUGO3PQ”,”content”:”

Will we see a shift in popular flight routes around the world if this conflict drags on? It’s hard to say.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU”,”additional_properties”:{“fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU.jpg?auth=801e5912000ec3b853acf04fcf7e5a156b82dbecea271cf310c751920f3492d6″,”galleries”:[],”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”originalName”:”iStock-2199315974.jpg”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU.jpg”,”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU.jpg?auth=801e5912000ec3b853acf04fcf7e5a156b82dbecea271cf310c751920f3492d6″,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU.jpg?auth=801e5912000ec3b853acf04fcf7e5a156b82dbecea271cf310c751920f3492d6″,”restricted”:false,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU.jpg?auth=801e5912000ec3b853acf04fcf7e5a156b82dbecea271cf310c751920f3492d6&width=300″,”version”:1,”firstPublishedDate”:”2026-03-22T23:19:22.537Z”},”address”:{},”alt_text”:”Emirates Airlines aircraft on the ground at the terminal in Dubai International Airport. File photo.”,”auth”:{“1″:”801e5912000ec3b853acf04fcf7e5a156b82dbecea271cf310c751920f3492d6″},”caption”:”Emirates Airlines aircraft on the ground at the terminal in Dubai International Airport. File photo.”,”created_date”:”2026-03-25T17:00:47Z”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: istock.com”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”18f0513c-04af-49e0-aaef-88f3bddfdb91″},”height”:2197,”last_updated_date”:”2026-03-25T17:00:47Z”,”licensable”:false,”owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”source”:{“name”:”istock.com”,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”},”edit_url”:””,”system”:”photo center”},”subtitle”:”Emirates Airlines aircraft on the ground at the terminal in Dubai International Airport”,”type”:”image”,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/5NPM7ROGPBAKNGN57ABM2OCQXU.jpg”,”version”:”0.10.9″,”width”:3905},{“_id”:”XNSQZXMD3JE5LBZG6QFF5S6MNE”,”content”:”

The Middle East is geographically well-positioned to access nearly the entire world with a non-stop flight. It sits at the intersection of several popular international travel corridors, and its airline ownership models typically include government backing (which can help carriers stay operationally and financially stable).

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”UL6OMGE4ZBELBMZ2REQ7FGVVNM”,”content”:”

However, if this conflict threatens those advantages in the long term, other airlines may step in, perhaps able to lower their fares over time by boosting their capacity.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”WUHX6COIP5HBFIADHBP6VJQWCY”,”content”:”Going the longer way around”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”46K3KAHOIJG3NJTZDWRL6NHHB4″,”content”:”

Airlines based in Asia are particularly well placed to serve Australians and New Zealanders travelling to Europe, though high demand for these routes has driven up airfares.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”XRK6AUCCIFEU3NCEJZE3SFRAEE”,”content”:”

Another option is to sequence together multiple tickets on different carriers. This can lower costs and may add an element of “adventure”.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”MMWDCYCUK5D7DKM3M43ABZMFRI”,”content”:”

However, there are some significant risks that could undo any cost savings. For one, the “extras” can really add up. A sequence of self-organised tickets often means additional expenses for:

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”JC4L4ZS7M5H5RHW6SZL62HCOFY”,”content”:”

– overnight transits

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”KEZVH2HPBBCEDMSMRBRZZJ24AM”,”content”:”

– multiple baggage fees

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”KSEL64EQLFGGBFIMEGAZ4UD5PA”,”content”:”

– more meals on the road.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”PB4J3UPYNRAFZFSXNHBVTSJJX4″,”content”:”

Travellers should also be mindful of visa requirements in transit countries, and any visa fees that apply.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”XXYVUDETVZBTRM7HOMOUOAQWPM”,”content”:”

Crucially, the “do-it-yourself” approach often means you are not protected from the impacts of delays or cancellations across multiple tickets on different airlines.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”B7NOZ6LRRNAWRF5BWAIJIGYLHQ”,”content”:”Other general tips”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”5FBPTJWPYRBXDJIJYNL55NK3YE”,”content”:”

For those who are planning travel in the next couple of months, most carriers based in the Middle East are selling tickets with a reduced flight schedule to accommodate operational restrictions.

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But given ongoing uncertainty, these schedules may not be as reliable as passengers would typically expect.

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Buying flexible fares and travel insurance can help alleviate the effects of travel disruptions. But they introduce added costs.

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What about those already booked, but anxious about whether they’ll be able to fly? Some airlines have cancellation or rebooking policies for passengers affected by the conflict for travel within a specified window of time.

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Airlines may offer fee waivers, free rebooking or penalty-free cancellations.

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But those whose dates aren’t eligible shouldn’t proactively cancel their flights themselves. Waiting for the airline to formally say, “we can’t take you there” gives you the best chance of ensuring it remains responsible for rebooking, a refund and other accommodations.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”GN2EVXZEEBEOZAYIVQAD5UFQLE”,”content”:”

Steven Leib is an associate professor in aviation at CQUniversity Australia.

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This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

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Electric cars are being sold before they even reach New Zealand shores, as demand for EVs surges on the back of rapidly rising fuel prices.

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Dealers told 1News some cars are now effectively “sold off the boat”, with buyers locking in purchases before vehicles arrive in the country.

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Latest figures from the Ministry of Transport confirmed the scale of the trend – new and New Zealand-new registrations of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles hit 1033 in the week ending March 22, compared to just 225 in the same week last year.

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That's the strongest weekly result since the Clean Car Discount ended at the start of 2024 – with EVs and hybrids making up one in five new registrations.

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One EV buyer, Phillip Smith, told 1News he hadn’t planned on buying a car when he stopped by a dealership but says he quickly changed his mind.

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“I simply was driving past, saw them advertising EVs, drove in, bought it just like that,” he said.

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With petrol prices climbing, Smith said he didn’t want to delay the decision.

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“I just didn’t want to be slow at making the right decision for the security of getting where we need to go.”

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Dealers say that kind of urgency is becoming more common with the pace of sales has accelerated sharply in recent days.

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That surge is now hitting supply.

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Dealers say vehicles on the showroom floor are already sold with many from the next shipment also secured before they arrive in the country.

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Geary Sutjahjo, an EV specialist at GVI Kiwi, said: “We’ve sent two of our buyers to Japan. We’re trying to get them in as quick as possible for everyone.”

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Staff say enquiry levels are now around five times higher than usual with most customers walking in either ready to buy or actively searching for an electric vehicle.

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“Enquiry on EVs is exponential," Sutjahjo said, with buyers increasingly arriving ready to purchase.

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“They’ve done their research and they basically just pick out the car.”

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Other dealers told 1News they’re seeing similar trends, with stock moving faster than it can be replaced.

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Kia General Manager Tim Owen said there was only one EV left on the floor, with customers also largely buying from their next shipment. "The question from customers is, what EVs do you have?"

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One customer, Richard Hanson, arriving to pick up his new EV – one of the last on the lot – said: "We brought forward the decision because of what's happening worldwide.

“,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”2BOQPOBDIJDRLFI3A73SU3PEZI”,”content”:”

"We've gone from rolling up to the petrol pump for $400 to Charging our EV at home for free."

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The surge isn’t just being felt on car lots, banks say they’re seeing it too.

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Westpac said EV loan applications have roughly doubled in the past two weeks.

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BNZ says interest in its green lending products has also jumped, with views of its “Better Future” home loan top-up offer up 66% compared to a month ago.

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Around half of those top-ups are currently being used for electric and hybrid vehicle purchases.

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The bank also reported a rise in business lending, with 50% more green loans drawn down in March compared to the monthly average earlier in the financial year – although it says it’s too early to directly link that increase to global events.

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ANZ says it has seen a slight increase in customer enquiries in recent weeks for its Good Energy Home Loan, which can be used for electric vehicles, chargers and home upgrades.

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The bank says more than 21,000 households have used the loan since its launch in 2022, with more than $850 million in lending drawn down.

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For those unable to secure an electric car, some commuters are turning to alternatives including e-bikes.

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Retailers say demand there is also surging.

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“It’s been really busy here. It’s feeling like Covid all over again,” said Maurice Wells from Electric Bike Team.

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Johannes Jacobs is one of many Aucklanders making the switch.

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“I’m buying the bike because I think, I’m sick and tired of sitting in traffic in Auckland.”

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He now commutes from Hobsonville into the city by e-bike and says the savings quickly add up.

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“For me, it’s $25 a day. You extrapolate that out over a year, a month, a week – it’s a lot of money.”

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It’s a change he says he’s already enjoying.

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“I go past three petrol stations and have a smile on my face… knowing I’m not the one having to pay those costs.”

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A red heavy rain warning has been issued for parts of Northland from this afternoon, with up to 320mm of rain forecast to lash the region.

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The escalation to a red warning comes as a deep area of low pressure from the sub-tropics approaches the country. In addition to the heavy rain, MetService said this was likely to be a multi-hazard event spanning several days with heavy rain, strong winds and large waves expected. 

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Shortly after 10am, the forecaster issued a red heavy rain warning – the highest level alert – for Northland east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangārei from 4pm today into Friday.

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"Expect 270 to 320 mm of rain. Peaks rates initially 15 to 25 mm/h, but increasing to 25 to 40 mm/h and possibly greater from Thursday afternoon through to early Friday morning.

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Thunderstorms were also possible from Thursday afternoon.

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🌧️ Rain has started to fall, with much more to come 🌧️
⚠️ Northland has a high risk of being upgraded to a Red Rain Warning. We will post any updates to watches and warnings here or you can visit https://t.co/HZ2TSD5rV7 pic.twitter.com/uCmbGySfCU

— MetService NZ (@MetService) March 24, 2026\n\n\n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”twitter”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″,”_id”:”https://x.com/MetService/status/2036518271198044456″,”additional_properties”:{}},”referent”:{“id”:”https://x.com/MetService/status/2036518271198044456″,”provider”:”https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=”,”referent_properties”:{“additional_properties”:{}},”service”:”oembed”,”type”:”twitter”}},{“_id”:”AASMRHFNUZGUVIJ7TS3FSUHQCA”,”content”:”

Red warnings were reserved for the most extreme weather events, where significant impacts and disruption were expected.

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This alert level signified that people "need to act now as immediate action is required to protect people, animals and property from the impact of the weather," said MetService meteorologist John Law.

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"People should also be prepared to follow the advice of official authorities and emergency services."

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Shortly after 7pm on Wednesday, electricity provider Top Energy was reporting power was out for hundreds of households in the upper Far North. The outages affected large swathes of areas from Ngataki to Cape Reinga.

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This is the third red warning that MetService had issued this year, and it marks the 22nd red weather event since the highest alert level was introduced back in May 2019.

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Severe weather was also expected across the country, with various watches and warnings in place for the remainder of Northland, Coromandel, Waikato, western Bay of Plenty, the top of the South Island and through to parts of North Otago and South Canterbury.

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In addition, MetService said the combination of heavy rain, powerful onshore winds, and moderate to heavy swell means that coastal areas in eastern Northland will be one to keep a close eye on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Residents in Oakura and Whangaruru were told to leave today if they felt unsafe as an access road would be closing.

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The Whangārei District Council said in a statement: "People whose homes were impacted by flooding and land slips in the January weather event, who don’t feel safe, are advised to leave today to a safe location either with family and friends or to a local marae.

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"We are advising people to leave today, ideally during daylight hours."

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Pilot convoy services had been operating on Kaiikanui Rd since the weather event in January, but the council said this may not be available when the worst of the new weather event was expected.

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"There is a possibility that there will be no pilot service on Kaiikanui Rd on Friday 27 March, depending on warning levels and weather impacts. We will update your community as the weather system moves through our district.

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"If you must travel on Kaiikanui Rd during this weather event, take extreme care, travel during daylight hours if possible and keep your speed below 30km. If you can, take the alternative route out via Opua."

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On Wednesday evening, Northland Civil Defence group controller Damien Rio notified residents that marae were being opened up to take residents who were feeling unsafe in their homes.

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"If you live in a flood-prone area, or in an area recently affected by landslides, make sure you have a plan for where you’ll go if you needed to evacuate – friends or whānau are the best first option," he said.

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"We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you updated. Stay safe, look out for each other."

“,”type”:”text”},{“type”:”oembed_response”,”subtype”:”facebook”,”_id”:”A3LWAWB3H5GL5PB7OB46H4NL4Q”,”raw_oembed”:{“provider_url”:”https://www.facebook.com”,”provider_name”:”Facebook”,”html”:”\n”,”type”:”facebook”,”version”:”1.0″,”width”:552,”_id”:”https://www.facebook.com/reel/1951072792163109″,”additional_properties”:{}},”referent”:{“id”:”https://www.facebook.com/reel/1951072792163109″,”provider”:”https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post/oembed.json/?url=”,”referent_properties”:{“additional_properties”:{}},”service”:”oembed”,”type”:”facebook”}},{“_id”:”JEUHPQCL3FDFJN2W2COW5JGQ2U”,”content”:”Strong winds for Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”YT7RSSX2F5BKDDUUGLF4PAKMJY”,”content”:”

Strong to gale-force winds would also be generated as the weather system moves closer to New Zealand, with gusts of 120km/h possible in the most exposed regions.

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In Auckland, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said road users should expect the weather to impact travel across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

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The strongest gusts were expected to hit from Thursday into Friday, which "may force lane closures and additional short periods of full closure to ensure safety". NZTA said the strongest wind was expected to hit from 8am tomorrow, Thursday, March 26, through to 1am on Friday, March 27, with some gusts reaching up to 120km/h.

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Drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists were advised to avoid the bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.

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"All drivers are reminded to drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic message boards on the motorway, which will advise of any lane closures and speed limit reductions."

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Heavy Rain Warning – Red

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Northland east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangārei– 36 hours from 4pm today to 4am Friday.

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Heavy Rain Warning – Orange

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Remainder of Northland not under a red warning – 36 hours from 4pm today to 4am Friday.

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Great Barrier Island – 30 hours from 3am Thursday to 9am Friday.

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Auckland from Whangaparāoa northwards – 30 hours from 3am Thursday to 9am Friday.

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Coromandel Peninsula – 36 hours from 6am Thursday to 6pm Friday.

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Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne –42 hours from 9am Thursday to 3am Saturday.

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Tasman west of Motueka – 26 hours from 10am Thursday to noon Friday.

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Richmond and Bryant Ranges – 18 hours from 6pm Thursday to noon Friday.

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Strong Wind Warning – Orange

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Northland – 26 hours from 9pm today to 11pm Thursday.

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Auckland and Great Barrier Island – 17 hours from 8am Thursday to 1am Friday.

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Heavy Rain Watch

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Auckland south of Whangaparaoa – 33 hours from 3am Thursday to noon Friday.

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Taranaki Maunga – 27 hours from 9am Thursday to noon Friday.

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Areas of the Tasman District south of Nelson City and north of Saint Arnaud not under a warning – 24 hours from noon Thursday to noon Friday.

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The inland ranges of Marlborough west of the Seaward Kaikoura Range and south of Picton – 21 hours from 6pm Thursday to 3pm Friday.

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Ranges of the Westland District – 36 hours from 3pm Thursday to 3am Saturday.

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North Otago, also Canterbury south of Timaru and east of Twizel – 12 hours from 6pm Thursday to 6am Friday.

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Strong Wind Watch

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Banks Peninsula – 24 hours from 7pm Thursday to 7pm Friday.

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Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato – 23 hours from 9am Thursday to 8am Friday.

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Taupō, Taumarunui, Taihape, Whanganui, South Taranaki – 24 hours from noon Thursday to noon Friday.

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An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed.

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The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries.

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US President Donald Trump has said that American officials are negotiating with Iran on the plan, but Zolfaghari, in a recorded video statement that aired on state television, suggested there were no talks.

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"Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?" he said.

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"Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you," Zolfaghari said. "Not now, not ever."

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The 15-point plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

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The New York Times was the first to report that the plan had been delivered to Iranian officials.

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The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region. The moves are being framed as Trump manoeuvring to give himself "max flexibility" on what he will do next, the person added.

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Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the person said.

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The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

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Meanwhile, airstrikes battered the Islamic Republic while Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and sites across the region.

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With oil prices rising and consumers feeling the pain at the pump, Trump has been under increasing pressure at home to bring the war to an end.

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Tehran’s chokehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing and threatened the world economy.

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"The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure," said Zolfaghari, the Iranian military spokesman. "The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end."

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This along with a 15km/h wind recorded at National Park enabled the fire to increase in intensity and rate of spread, becoming a high intensity and fast-moving fire.”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”KQOPKDAY3JC2LO3HRH2OFHEUXQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”\”A witness described the fire as the size of a car, but quickly spread to the size of two rugby fields by the time the brigade arrived.\””,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”XEB3ONLMPJF6PEUFVQPG5RDVCI”,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”Detheridge-Davies concluded the fire was accidental.”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”IVTWPNCK45G4BJIYGXLSFYJ67E”,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”Second fire sparked by caravan breaking axle”,”level”:2,”type”:”header”},{“_id”:”RDOKCOGSHZFIVPXGWPHNNUUG2Q”,”additional_properties”:{},”embed”:{“config”:{“brightcoveAccount”:”963482464001″,”brightcoveVideoId”:”6386180465112″,”id”:”2777538″,”videoType”:”vod”},”id”:”2777538″,”url”:”https://apis-public-prod.tech.tvnz.co.nz/hummingbird-arc/v1/assets/vod/04c91b00-d3e7-11f0-9106-930493c92453″},”subtype”:”video”,”type”:”custom_embed”},{“_id”:”RGFJJJINZZHGZP2NYDSP264YMA”,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”Remarkably, documents show a second fire was sparked in the same area in similar circumstances just 30 days later.”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”VVT4PWVQHVF23NYHAVJKMJMTHI”,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”A second fire investigation report released under the Official Information Act describes how a caravan breaking an axle sparked a 300ha fire on December 8.”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”KFH3VOEV75D43GSZ6THS5NFOL4″,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”Also penned by Detheridge-Davies it said FENZ received a 111 call to several vegetation fires on Volcanic Loop Highway SH47 at 1.10pm.”,”type”:”text”},{“_id”:”TAUB6MH2U5A7LGMHKVAYUWB53A”,”additional_properties”:{},”content”:”\”An overflying helicopter reported the fire as over an 1/2-hectare in size and growing. 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Sporting that Hannah Montana blonde hair and bangs, Miley Cyrus went back to her roots — celebrating 20 years of the TV show that launched the career of a real-life pop star.

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Cyrus reunited with cast members of Hannah Montana in Los Angeles for the premiere of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.

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Cyrus told The Associated Press that the milestone has given her a chance to see the character and series from "a new perspective". Cyrus, who began the Disney Channel show at age 13, played Miley Stewart, a tween and middle-schooler hiding her secret life as a famous pop singer.

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"Getting to be on the outside now, getting to be grown and be a part of it in a way that I couldn’t when I was in the middle of it before, and all the chaos and the schedule and the performing of it all," Cyrus said, "now it just gets to be a celebration. So it is a new perspective. I love that".

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The anniversary special, which started streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, celebrates 20 years since the show’s premiere. Filmed in front of a live audience, it features archival footage and is centred on an interview with Cyrus — now 33 and a genuine pop star — conducted by podcast host Alex Cooper.

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It includes several musical numbers, starting with the series anthem The Best of Both Worlds and ending with a new song dedicated to Cyrus' younger self. It also includes appearances by friends and family members, including father Billy Ray Cyrus, with whom Miley Cyrus tries to recreate their handshake from the series. Selena Gomez, who played a rival, makes an appearance, as does singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, who speaks to Miley Cyrus' influence on her career.

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Addressing the audience at the premiere, Miley Cyrus paid tribute both to fellow cast members and fans. "Without you all, this show would have never been what it is, and I love saying what it is, not what it was," she said.

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"Tonight isn’t about looking back into the past, but it’s about what it means to us still tonight," she said.

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Jason Earles, who played Miley’s brother Jackson, told the AP that watching the show now highlights how much time has passed.

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“I think if you go back and you watch the episodes, there’s enough dated references like old flip phones and stuff that you go, 'Oh no, no, this show was a little while ago'," he said.

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Cody Linley, who played Miley's on-and-off boyfriend Jake Ryan, reflected on the impact of portraying a teen heartthrob.

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"It's hard to believe that there were girls that had pictures of me with my shirt off in their locker and they would have me sign it," Linley said. "And it's hard not to let it go to your head, because you have to remember that it’s an image that they are seeing. It’s not you."

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Also attending the premiere was country singer Lainey Wilson, who recalled working as a Hannah Montana impersonator early in her career.

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"From 8th grade to 12th grade, five years of my life, I would open up the show as Lainey Wilson, I would run behind a tree and put on my Hannah Montana get-up," the singer said. "I did birthday parties, fairs, festivals… I was hitting the roads."

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Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan responded to accusations made by Brazilian-Italian football star Jorginho that a security guard mistreated his 11-year-old stepdaughter after she recognised the singer.

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Jorginho Frello, a player for Flamengo widely known as Jorginho, said that his wife and the child were staying at the same hotel in Sao Paulo as the singer, who is in the country for the Lollapalooza Brazil music festival, when the controversy occurred.

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“During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognised her, got excited and just wanted to make sure it was really her,” Jorginho said, in a lengthy text posted on Instagram in Portuguese and English on Saturday. The girl is the daughter of Catherine Harding, Jorginho's wife, and British actor Jude Law.

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“She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything,” Jorginho said, adding that a security guard then came over to his family’s table and spoke “in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife and my daughter".

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Jorginho said that Roan did not deserve her fans' affection.

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Roan addressed the incident, also on Instagram. The singer said that the security guard was not her personal security and that she didn’t see a woman and a child.

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“It’s unfair for security to just assume someone doesn’t have good intentions,” Roan said. “I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do no hate children.”

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Rio’s new mayor Eduardo Cavaliere weighed in on the controversy, saying that while he was mayor Roan would never perform on Copacabana Beach as Madonna and Lady Gaga have, and as Shakira will do in May.

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“I doubt that Shakira would do that!” he said, adding that Jorginho’s daughter would be a guest of honor at the Colombian superstar’s upcoming free concert on Rio's sprawling sands. Cavaliere replaced former Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes on Friday.

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Roan, who is openly queer and taps into drag culture, was the sassy toast of the pop world in 2024 with tracks that include Good Luck, Babe! Red Wine Supernova and Hot To Go! from her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

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Roan headlined Auckland's Laneway Festival earlier this year. She nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy for best new artist last February.

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After the lengthy texts, Jorginho posted a story of his daughter's excited reaction upon arriving at Carpenter's show at Lollapalooza. “Everything is well with the girls, and thanks for the messages,” he said.

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon has died, aged 54.

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The actor, who starred as Buffy Summers' best friend Xander Harris on all seven seasons of the supernatural drama, died today.

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In a statement, his family said they were "heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon".

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Brendon died in his sleep of natural causes.

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While best known for his work as an actor, Brendon had "found his passion in painting and art" in recent years, his family said.

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"Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans.

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"He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was."

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His loved ones asked for privacy while they "grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart".

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"Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support."

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Buffy co-star Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow Rosenberg, took to social media to pay tribute to Brendon.

“},{“_id”:”K2QWWWMHCBFDZLQSKWEG3VNKME”,”type”:”raw_html”,”content”:” View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alyson Hannigan Denisof (@alysonhannigan)

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"My Sweet Nicky, thank you for years of laughter, love and Dodgers. I will think of you every time I see a rocking chair. I love you. RIP."

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Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Getty”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”}},”taxonomy”:{“associated_tasks”:[]},”type”:”image”,”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”e041eba5-77fc-429c-bb75-98962a8d6c62″},”focal_point”:{“x”:2840,”y”:1018},”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/4R2CUBG4PVC7FCOKNWKHRKOJ44.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”alt_text”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 1978.”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Getty”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”subtitle”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu style moves with a trainer in back yard of his house in Palos Verdes circa 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triggered an outpouring of memorials from fellow Hollywood tough guys and fans. “},{“_id”:”TZXIVADJTBEXXCHJUZCDOCMCSY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”The martial arts grandmaster and action star of Walker, Texas Ranger, died Thursday (local time), in what his family described as a “sudden passing”.”},{“_id”:”6F3PWSC6FFAKZAFWIXYJIW4VI4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were some contemporaries of Norris who took to social media to pay their respects.”},{“_id”:”D7PILPJJCBDUHKGPUVEYIIOW3A”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Here’s what some are saying, in their own words:”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”ZTAMRT6MGNHKDFMSAPZKY267UM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Jean-Claude Van Damme”},{“_id”:”WFQ7UQXB7FBBJPGUGAVBHU3NSA”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Deepest condolences on the passing of my friend, Chuck Norris. We knew each other from my early days, and I always respected the man he was. My heart and prayers are with his family. He will never be forgotten,” the actor, via Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”JUSVLQ7FT5BABAJSBY277VZYIY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Dolph Lundgren”},{“_id”:”WAWWGQ6ZONET7EEORONQ3HFSPU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Chuck Norris is the champ. Ever since I was a young martial artist and later getting into movies, I always looked up to him as a role model. Someone who had the respect, humility and strength it takes to be a man. We will miss you, my friend,” the actor, on Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”YL7T77KWCVAKRHV3MAI7PSWXOM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Sylvester Stallone”},{“_id”:”HHRRK6RCYJF2RMDPVEB3A2T26I”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I had a great time working with Chuck. He was All American in every way. Great man and my condolences to his wonderful family,” his Expendables 2 co-star, via Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”FI3IX5EBIRFNRHM5YKUIB43GEQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Arnold Schwarzenegger”},{“_id”:”4AP3U4W5SFDC5CLOT5GP6UXZSY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Chuck was an icon. I am grateful that I was able to work with him in multiple ways over the years, from promoting fitness to sharing the screen together. He was a badass, in real life and in Hollywood. His legend will be with us forever. My thoughts are with his family,” the actor via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”UBEUV2QRXJAZPETJ4KFVMT2EIM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Lorenzo Lamas”},{“_id”:”AIKNN4IF4RFKRJJLDN3Y34FFO4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Watch out evil world, there is an angel of consequence at the gates. Chuck Norris doesn’t just get wings, he gets even,” the actor, via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”X7VQJDDRVZDWRE3TIBOCCS6W4I”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Lee Majors”},{“_id”:”FBNAZLMWKRGJBKP4KPGXZB765Y”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I know the millions of fans across the world are feeling this loss too, but for me, it’s deeply personal. I had the honor of working alongside him, sharing moments I’ll never forget. He wasn’t just a legend on screen he was a kind, strong, and genuine soul off of it. I’m really going to miss you, my friend. Hey Chuck… maybe you can teach the good Lord a few karate moves — I know He’ll get a kick out of them,” the actor on Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”4V5UICX2CVEMBLU2LZTXAPR3AQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Joe Piscopo”},{“_id”:”OULOGHLISFFQ7NTAT4LWNZYEGY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Just heard that the Legend — The Man — Mr. Chuck Norris has passed away. I was honored to work with Chuck. It was a life changing and treasured experience that I will hold dearly in my heart forever,\” the actor, via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”M3QVMRCJ7VACVH5PRRZTDZEW7A”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Mike Huckabee”},{“_id”:”BK2B6D6IIBFO7JW6MQXN36R56E”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“He was humble & kind. I’ll never forget a visit we made to a Veterans Home in New Hampshire. Chuck & Gena graciously visited with every veteran, listening & caring. Most of these veterans idolized Chuck Norris. He & Gena were patient, warm, & compassionate. When we got in the vehicle after the visit, I looked over at them & they were both weeping having been touched by these aging US veterans & their stories,” the US ambassador to Israel, via X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”S3Z5RN6EYRCTVPLRLDKI2IYNDA”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Priscilla Presley”},{“_id”:”HXL6QDK74ZGJZF7ZMZ45LXKHUQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I’m so sad to hear that my Karate instructor and friend Chuck Norris has passed away. He will be forever missed,” the actor wrote on Instagram.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”NAE4TPDRLJGRDALKC7DC67BNZ4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Morgan Fairchild”},{“_id”:”KYAFMDSMSFA4LFPTGSURD66LVY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I’m so sorry to hear of our loss of Chuck, who I considered a friend for many years. We were in Taiwan in ’87 (I think) to accept Golden Horse Awards, and we bonded there. It didn’t hurt that I loved martial arts! He was always a real gentleman every time I ran into him. My condolences to his family & friends,” the actor on X.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”SFM7Y5VP7JGYJJ3E5GFLSX5CHM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Geraldo Rivera”},{“_id”:”GE3LTBG4PFALLE3UWFVQB7O6AE”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”“They used to say Chuck Norris is so tough he makes onions cry. Rest in peace, my friend, thank you for all you did in TV, movies and life. You were a gentleman, faithful and patriotic, and I was honored to meet you,\” the TV personality via X.”}],”description”:{“basic”:”Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren were some contemporaries of Norris who took to social media to pay their respects.”},”taxonomy”:{“sections”:[{“name”:”Entertainment”,”_id”:”/entertainment”}],”tags”:[{“description”:”Television”,”text”:”Television”,”slug”:”television”},{“description”:”Movies”,”text”:”Movies”,”slug”:”movies”},{“description”:”North America”,”text”:”North America”,”slug”:”north-america”}]},”related_content”:{“redirect”:[],”basic”:[{“referent”:{“provider”:””,”id”:”456GVTBWMNAKTLKWYP5WNLTBTU”,”type”:”story”},”_id”:”456GVTBWMNAKTLKWYP5WNLTBTU”,”type”:”reference”}]},”type”:”story”,”promo_items”:{“basic”:{“owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”copyright”:”nik wheeler”,”address”:{“locality”:”Los Angeles”,”region”:”CA”},”auth”:{“1″:”cc4457a165c807b4f1a88e3e8686bf4541138227226edf316aabee1ce25560ef”},”caption”:”Chuck Norris practices kung fu 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Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in Walker, Texas Ranger and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86.

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Norris died Thursday (local time), in what his family described as a “sudden passing”.

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“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

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Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. He was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He also founded his own Korean-based American hard style of karate, known sometimes as Chun Kuk Do, and the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded more than 3300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide. Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th-degree black belt, the highest possible honour.

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Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, he grew up poor. At age 12, he moved with his family to Torrance, California, and joined the US Air Force after high school, in 1958. It was during a deployment to Korea that he started training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.

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“I went out for gymnastics and football at North Torrance high,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I played some football, but I also spent a lot of time on the bench. I was never really athletic until I was in the service in Korea.”

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After he was honourably discharged in 1962, he worked as a file clerk for Northrop Aircraft and applied to be a police officer, but was put on a waitlist. Meanwhile, he opened a martial arts studio, which expanded to a chain, with students including such stars as Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donny and Marie Osmond, and Steve McQueen, whom he later credited with encouraging him to get into acting.

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Norris made his film debut as an uncredited bodyguard in the 1968 movie The Wrecking Crew, which included a fight with Dean Martin. He had also crossed paths with Bruce Lee in martial arts circles. Their friendship — sometimes, as sparring partners — led to an iconic faceoff in the 1972 movie Return of the Dragon, in which Lee fights and kills Norris' character in Rome's Colosseum.

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He went on to act in more than 20 movies, such as Missing in Action, The Delta Force and Sidekicks.

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“I wanted to project a certain image on the screen of a hero. I had seen a lot of anti-hero movies in which the lead was neither good nor bad. There was no one to root for,” Norris said in 1982.

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In 1993, he took on his most famed role, as a crime-fighting lawman in TV's Walker, Texas Ranger. The show ran for nine seasons, and in 2010, then-Governor Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.

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“It’s not violence for violence’s sake, with no moral structure,” Norris told the AP in 1996, speaking about the show. “You try to portray the proper meaning of what it’s about — fighting injustice with justice, good vs. bad. … It’s entertaining for the whole family.”

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Norris also made a surprise comedic appearance as a decisive judge in the final match of the 2004 movie Dodgeball. He only on occasion had taken acting roles in recent years, including 2012's The Expendables 2 and the 2024 sci-fi action movie Agent Recon. He's due to appear in Zombie Plane, an upcoming film starring Vanilla Ice.

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It was around the time of Dodgeball that his toughman image became the stuff of legend, literally: “Chuck Norris Facts” went viral online with such wildly hyperbolic statements as, “Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun — and won,” and, “They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt Rushmore, but the granite wasn’t tough enough for his beard.”

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Norris ultimately embraced the absurdity of the meme craze, putting together The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book, which combined his favourites with supposedly true stories and the codes he aimed to live by. He would also write books on martial arts instruction, a memoir, political takes, Civil War-era historical fiction and more.

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“To some who know little of my martial arts or film careers but perhaps grew up with Walker, Texas Ranger, it seems that I have become a somewhat mythical superhero icon,” Norris wrote in the forward to the Fact Book. “I am flattered and humbled.”

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That book raised money for a nonprofit he founded with President George HW Bush that promoted martial arts instruction for kids.

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The intentionally outlandish statements featured in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, when Norris endorsed Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and shot an ad playing on the Chuck Norris facts.

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“Chuck Norris doesn’t endorse. He tells America how it’s going to be,” Huckabee said in the campaign ad.

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President Donald Trump's supporters later promoted "Trump Facts” in the same vein, and political pundits tried it as well, describing the commander-in-chief's decision to seize Venezuela's sitting president, Nicolas Maduro, as a “Chuck Norris Moment”, and its initial effect on oil prices a “Chuck Norris Premium”.

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Norris was outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and backed political candidates for years — he even went skydiving with Bush for the former president's 80th birthday. As for Trump, Norris endorsed him in the 2016 general election and wrote guest columns praising him without explicitly endorsing him in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.

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Norris is survived by five children: stunt performers Mike and Eric with his late ex-wife Dianne Holechek, twins Dakota and Danilee with his wife Gena Norris, and Dina, the result of an early 1960s “one-night stand” revealed in his autobiography.

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Norris celebrated his birthday just over a week before his death, posting a sparring video on Instagram.

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“I don't age. I level up,” he wrote.

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– Taylor Frankie Paul”,”height”:1351},{“_id”:”EIAGU7VLXZBDJO5MABZCOCT264″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”ABC’s decision to cancel a completed season of The Bachelorette marks the latest controversy in a franchise that has repeatedly faced scrutiny over casting, cultural awareness and the behaviour of some of its most prominent figures.”},{“_id”:”T3E55OC2NZDRNIBFR5LNYMSAPQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”The network pulled the upcoming season starring Taylor Frankie Paul after a 2023 video of an altercation with her former partner surfaced. In it, she appears to punch, kick and throw chairs at him as her young daughter watched and cried. The cancellation stands out for the series as it has previously navigated issues in real time rather than shelving an entire season.”},{“_id”:”22NAELA5WJC47CLEZ2PY2ZRV74″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Here’s a look at other notable controversies from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette over the years:”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”DEZWHOIOWNEVXBGZ4T6ZRBNRCU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”How diversity debates changed the franchise’s face”},{“owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”address”:{“locality”:”Beverly Hills”,”region”:”CA”},”auth”:{“1″:”b83ca89cac0149c4b9555af666f8ef707f4555d0573d790f6cc2b37db9489934″},”caption”:”Rachel Lindsay arrives at the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2023″,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Associated Press”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”}},”taxonomy”:{“associated_tasks”:[]},”type”:”image”,”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”a3631aab-a389-4d43-9f1d-3163eac4fb27″},”focal_point”:{“x”:1160,”y”:587},”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”alt_text”:”Rachel Lindsay arrives at the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2023″,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Associated Press”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”subtitle”:”Rachel Lindsay arrives at the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2023″,”width”:3000,”_id”:”KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q”,”additional_properties”:{“fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q.jpg?auth=b83ca89cac0149c4b9555af666f8ef707f4555d0573d790f6cc2b37db9489934″,”iptc_source”:”Invision”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”CAMH409″,”keywords”:[“hfpa”,”hollywood foreign press association”],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q.jpg?auth=b83ca89cac0149c4b9555af666f8ef707f4555d0573d790f6cc2b37db9489934″,”takenOn”:”2023-01-10T22:31:00Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q.jpg?auth=b83ca89cac0149c4b9555af666f8ef707f4555d0573d790f6cc2b37db9489934″,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/KGJ3R4Q2GFENBLH4JLWGIMV65Q.jpg?auth=b83ca89cac0149c4b9555af666f8ef707f4555d0573d790f6cc2b37db9489934&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”AP26079056737154.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”firstPublishedDate”:”2026-03-20T02:21:54.512Z”,”iptc_title”:”INVL”},”created_date”:”2026-03-20T05:30:46Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2026-03-20T05:30:46Z”,”slug”:”TV The Bachelorette Controversies”,”height”:2012},{“_id”:”IQPAE4Z43NAGXCOTXU7Z33R6UY”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”For much of its run, the franchise faced sustained criticism over its lack of diversity, particularly in its leading roles.”},{“_id”:”GCDURXFSWFEUZPHZKYOPLL3KM4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”A 2012 lawsuit alleged that the show excluded contestants of colour from becoming the lead, though the case was dismissed. The criticism persisted for years as the franchise continued to feature mostly white bachelors and bachelorettes.”},{“_id”:”3WSEBLTM7BAJTJSJ4VIHRODNSU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Rachel Lindsay became the first Black lead in 2017, a milestone that came after years of public pressure. She later emerged as one of the show’s most prominent critics, pushing for deeper structural change in how the franchise approached diversity on-screen and behind the scenes.”},{“_id”:”HV3FLPJBYVDEHH7FCZGIGI7CLM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”ABC later cast Matt James as its first Black Bachelor in 2020, a move which was widely viewed as long overdue.”},{“_id”:”2MVV2XJBLRCURGLBRCI7PDJFSA”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”More recently, Jenn Tran became the franchise’s first Asian American lead in 2024. “},{“_id”:”KEEPOITBTVB37MJOA4QEAWNIKI”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”The Vietnamese American star called the role deeply personal in an interview with The Associated Press, while her season also sparked debate after early criticism that it featured few suitors of Asian descent.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”3A5FQVVFZ5EADKCOFNRFB75TRU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”Backlash follows more diverse casting”},{“owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”copyright”:”Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved”,”address”:{“locality”:”Boston”,”region”:”MA”},”auth”:{“1″:”e42b3fd92b3ccb9027d4de899f03d4e1e08cbcf028c6d1e42b028c60b7039f95″},”caption”:”Jenn Tran waves before throwing the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox”,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Associated Press”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”}},”taxonomy”:{“associated_tasks”:[]},”type”:”image”,”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”a3631aab-a389-4d43-9f1d-3163eac4fb27″},”focal_point”:{“x”:1345,”y”:339},”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”alt_text”:”Jenn Tran waves before throwing the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox”,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Associated Press”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”subtitle”:”Jenn Tran waves before throwing the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox”,”width”:2510,”_id”:”QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q”,”additional_properties”:{“fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q.jpg?auth=e42b3fd92b3ccb9027d4de899f03d4e1e08cbcf028c6d1e42b028c60b7039f95″,”iptc_source”:”AP”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”CAMH407″,”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q.jpg?auth=e42b3fd92b3ccb9027d4de899f03d4e1e08cbcf028c6d1e42b028c60b7039f95″,”takenOn”:”2024-09-07T19:15:20Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q.jpg?auth=e42b3fd92b3ccb9027d4de899f03d4e1e08cbcf028c6d1e42b028c60b7039f95″,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/QJ3DIJBM25DVZEG2BQJM52IU2Q.jpg?auth=e42b3fd92b3ccb9027d4de899f03d4e1e08cbcf028c6d1e42b028c60b7039f95&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”AP26079049035962.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”firstPublishedDate”:”2026-03-20T02:24:29.291Z”,”iptc_title”:”STF”},”created_date”:”2026-03-20T05:30:47Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2026-03-20T05:30:47Z”,”slug”:”TV The Bachelorette Controversies”,”height”:1673},{“_id”:”X5OBJX4OHJBKVBQHY6HSUHDAEM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Even as the franchise expanded its casting, contestants and leads of colour have often faced backlash from segments of the show’s audience.”},{“_id”:”XGDKVRUV65F2DEDIII4EEIJ6XI”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Non-white participants — including Lindsay and James — encountered heightened scrutiny and racist commentary online. Tran’s season also sparked discussion around how contestants of colour have historically received fewer roses and more criticism from viewers.”},{“_id”:”JTKO7VX2MNDNXFRDYM5PPNBJCI”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”The response fueled ongoing questions about whether parts of the audience have evolved at the same pace as the franchise’s casting decisions.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”3S4UCU3CWFC7DMYWNSKDYTMZAM”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”What’s behind the host controversy and cultural sensitivity”},{“owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”copyright”:”Invision”,”address”:{“locality”:”Pasadena”,”region”:”CA”},”auth”:{“1″:”80b20517c9b4f36d784320af77e99c486f78f822d9334107cfa5c5072c2d5069″},”caption”:”Chris Harrison arrives at the 49th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 24, 2022″,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Associated Press”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”other”,”additional_properties”:{“editor”:”photo center”}},”taxonomy”:{“associated_tasks”:[]},”type”:”image”,”distributor”:{“mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”a3631aab-a389-4d43-9f1d-3163eac4fb27″},”focal_point”:{“x”:1445,”y”:791},”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”alt_text”:”Chris Harrison arrives at the 49th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 24, 2022″,”credits”:{“affiliation”:[{“name”:”Source: Associated Press”,”type”:”author”}],”by”:[]},”subtitle”:”Chris Harrison arrives at the 49th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 24, 2022″,”width”:3000,”_id”:”THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q”,”additional_properties”:{“fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q.jpg?auth=80b20517c9b4f36d784320af77e99c486f78f822d9334107cfa5c5072c2d5069″,”iptc_source”:”Invision”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”CAMH408″,”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q.jpg?auth=80b20517c9b4f36d784320af77e99c486f78f822d9334107cfa5c5072c2d5069″,”takenOn”:”2022-06-24T23:47:10Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q.jpg?auth=80b20517c9b4f36d784320af77e99c486f78f822d9334107cfa5c5072c2d5069″,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/THDNY5IXMFDT5AUXVGSRR2LC7Q.jpg?auth=80b20517c9b4f36d784320af77e99c486f78f822d9334107cfa5c5072c2d5069&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”AP26079050203151.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”firstPublishedDate”:”2026-03-20T02:26:44.190Z”,”iptc_title”:”INVL”},”created_date”:”2026-03-20T05:30:46Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2026-03-20T05:30:46Z”,”slug”:”TV The Bachelorette Controversies”,”height”:2075},{“_id”:”NYE3NXJNB5DWVLEFYOGWZYZFHU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”One of the franchise’s most high-profile controversies came in 2021 involving longtime host Chris Harrison.”},{“_id”:”QSEGMHWEKNAAJBPUBJSM5VGIQQ”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Harrison stepped down from his role mid-season after defending contestant Rachael Kirkconnell in an interview as criticism grew over photos showing her at an antebellum plantation-themed event and dressed in a Native American costume.”},{“_id”:”LOKLRSD6J5CQPKA7GL33NIPMHI”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Harrison later apologised, saying, “By excusing historical racism, I defended it.””},{“_id”:”HHYIDIVELNERXDHHEZOWCZIEB4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe hosted the remainder of that season of The Bachelor — which Kirkconnell went on to win — and the 2021 season of The Bachelorette until Jesse Palmer was named the franchise’s new permanent host later that year.”},{“_id”:”JXSD2WYDFBA5XLG633ETLHAP5A”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”ABC said at the time it was committed to improving representation among its production teams.”},{“_id”:”DQ3MEAJXYRBWRPGFB5GPEQKRDA”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Moments within the show itself have also drawn criticism. A 2019 episode set in Singapore faced backlash after contestants mocked local cuisine, with critics saying the segment reflected a lack of cultural awareness.”},{“level”:2,”_id”:”ZLA2LZDZLZBOTN6WZBF2XM7GE4″,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”header”,”content”:”How a history of controversy continued to evolve”},{“_id”:”VKW7KJSADFFTNK4MO6BTKLECUE”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”Earlier controversies included comments from former Bachelor Juan Pablo Galavis.”},{“_id”:”Q2UAFOI5JNGOVARVUO7U3GVJSU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”In 2014, Galavis said he did not believe a gay or bisexual man should lead the show and described gay people as “more pervert, in a sense” in an interview. The remarks drew widespread criticism and prompted an apology, with Galavis later citing a language barrier.”},{“_id”:”R4XW6CVNEVAMNPKOPALX52ZPRU”,”additional_properties”:{},”type”:”text”,”content”:”The episode remains one of the franchise’s most talked-about early scandals involving a lead. It highlighted long-standing questions about inclusion within the series.”}],”description”:{“basic”:”Here’s a look at other notable controversies from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette over the years. “},”taxonomy”:{“sections”:[{“name”:”Entertainment”,”_id”:”/entertainment”}],”tags”:[{“description”:”Television”,”text”:”Television”,”slug”:”television”},{“description”:”North America”,”text”:”North America”,”slug”:”north-america”}]},”related_content”:{“redirect”:[],”basic”:[{“referent”:{“provider”:””,”id”:”JEQMWFSHVFFW7C5T2JQ3KWMJHY”,”type”:”story”},”_id”:”JEQMWFSHVFFW7C5T2JQ3KWMJHY”,”type”:”reference”}]},”type”:”story”,”promo_items”:{“basic”:{“owner”:{“id”:”tvnz”},”address”:{“locality”:”Los Angeles”,”region”:”CA”},”auth”:{“1″:”d948d431b97157bf99377700e2a8f4779b2673cdfcd14b0dcf88ee1af264ef11″},”caption”:”Taylor Frankie Paul appears at the Oscars in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026.”,”source”:{“system”:”photo center”,”name”:”Associated 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