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Photo: supplied Fletcher Building has reached a multi-million dollar settlement over the issue of leaky pipes in Western Australian homes which has dogged the company. Fletcher Building shares had been on a trading halt ahead of the announcement. Trading will begin again soon. It has just told the NZ stock market that it will have to set aside $A155 million ($168 million) in its next financial statement to cover the settlement. The West Australian government will pay up to $A30m ($32.5m). Fletchers said it expects the first year of the settlement will need some $A40m ($43m) to $A50m ($55m), and in subsequent years in the order of A$15m($16m) to A$35m ($38m). At issue has been who is responsible for leaky pipes in Western Australian homes. The pipes are manufactured by Fletcher's Iplex su...

By Krishani Dhanji and Tom Crowley, ABC News Anthony Albanese Photo: Six Labor MPs including assistant minister Ged Kearney want their government to change its decision not to include gender identity and sexuality in the census Labor frontbenchers have said the decision was made to avoid a "divisive" debate but the MPs say the government should stick to the principle in Labor's national platform. The next census will be held in 2026. The Albanese government is facing its second wave of internal dissent in the space of weeks, as Labor politicians vent their dismay over a decision not to collect sexuality and gender identity data in the next census. LGBTQIA+ advocates reacted with fury and disbelief when the government quietly confirmed on Monday it would not include a question ...

Kiingi Tuheitia in 2015 with King Charles - then Prince of Wales - and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawaahia. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / POOL / AFP Leaders from around the world have been paying tribute to the Māori king, Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who has passed away at the aged of 69. King Charles sent a message of condolence on Friday morning (NZT), saying he and his wife Queen Camilla were "profoundly saddened" to learn of Kiingi Tuheitia's death. "I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion. "I remember with immense fondness meeting Kiingi Tuhei...

Photo: supplied Fletcher Building is in a trading halt ahead of a government announcement, later on Friday, about leaky pipes in Western Australian homes, manufactured by its Iplex subsidiary. Fletcher had been in mediation with stakeholders, including the Government of Western Australia, as part of a joint industry response to the leaky pipe issue. Perth-based building firm BGC blamed Iplex for the bursting and leaking pipes, but Fletcher said installation was the problem. Fletcher said Friday's announcement would include material information in respect of its shares. "This announcement is expected to outline whether the Government of Western Australia will accept a joint industry response to this issue," Fletcher said in a statement to the market. The trading halt would remain in place...

By Michelle Nichols, Reuters A UNRWA employee is providing a Polio vaccine in a clinic in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on 21 January, 2024. Photo: NurPhoto via AFP Israel's military and Palestinian militant group Hamas have agreed to three separate, zoned three-day pauses in fighting in Gaza to allow for the first round of vaccination of 640,000 children against polio, a senior WHO official said on Thursday. The vaccination campaign is due to start on Sunday, with the pauses scheduled to take place between 6am and 3pm local time, said Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's senior official for the Palestinian territories. He said the campaign would start in central Gaza with three consecutive daily pauses in fighting, then move to southern Gaza, where there would be ano...

Kiingi Tuheitia making his annual speech at Turangawaewae Photo: RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson The secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum says he believes the whole of the Pacific will mourn the death of the Māori king, Kiingi Tuheitia. Māoridom is in mourning after the Māori King died peacefully surrounded by his whānau following scheduled heart surgery. His death comes days after celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation. Baron Waqa said Kiingi Tuheitia was one of the key figures in the Pacific and was well respected in the region. "I think the whole of the Pacific will mourn his passing," Waqa said. "We're all here in Tonga, finishing off the leaders' meeting, and this is ... devastating news for us." Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said his country would be...