Aussie PM to visit NZ
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is heading to our shores for his first official visit with Prime Minister Bill English, with the state of the world economy among topics on the table.
Turnbull, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos will arrive in Queenstown on Friday for the annual Australia-new Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.
English said the visit was ‘‘a good opportunity to discuss global economic trends and our shared interest in advancing the trade agenda in the Asia-pacific’’.
The pair would also discuss efforts to increase the two countries’ economic integration, as well as the rights of Kiwis living in Australia, with English praising Turnbull’s ‘‘welcome announcement’’ last year of a pathway to citizenship.
It is unclear whether US President Donald Trump will get a mention.
While English’s phone call with Trump led to media writing about ‘‘personal chemistry’’ between the pair, the American leader reportedly blasted Turnbull over a ‘‘dumb’’ refugee swap deal and said it was his ‘‘worst call by far’’ that day.
- Fairfax NZ A woman accused of a racial attack in Huntly, in which several women were abused for being Muslim, has admitted her misdeeds.
Megan Sarah Louise Walton, 27, of no fixed abode in Auckland, appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Monday, charged with assault, assault using a can of alcohol as a weapon, and behaving ‘‘in an insulting manner that was likely in the circumstances to cause violence against persons’’.
The assault with a weapon charge comes with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. However, that charge was amended to the lesser charge of assault under the Crimes Act - which has a maximum penalty of one year in jail. Bail was granted but will be reviewed on Wednesday, with conditions including not to drink alcohol and to report daily to police.
It is not known why Walton was at the Huntly public toilets, where the abuse occurred. Aucklander Mehpara Khan complained to police after she and four friends stopped in the Waikato town on Saturday during a road trip.
According to the police summary, Walton said she was too inebriated to remember the incident. - Fairfax NZ