Winston Peters reckons the formation of the next government will happen “more quickly” than some are expecting.

Speaking to Sean Plunket in his first substantive interview since election night, the New Zealand First leader said that once the special votes had been tallied, the next government should be assembled in time to allow New Zealand’s participation in the Pacific Island Forum next week.

“You might think that that’s not important, but it is for a country like New Zealand, because a small country like ours needs to be there in some circumstances, making sure that we’ve got representation,” he said.

Peters wouldn’t say much about ongoing coalition talks – nor whether he had met directly with Act’s David Seymour yet. “I’m not going to breach confidentiality on anything in this process. It’s very important, if you want to move forward and gain people’s confidence, you stick to your word and I’ve always done that and I’m not going to change now.”

The special votes will be revealed this Friday afternoon, giving the final look at the shape of the next government. While Peters said talks were under way now, he said “finality” could not be reached without the “the numeric detail”.

Online grocer Supie has gone into voluntary administration after a key investor ceased its funding of the business.

RNZ has reported that the Auckland-based grocer, which employed 120 people, was placed into administration by founder Sarah Balle after the investor’s departure left the business around $3 million in debt. Richard Nancey and Stephen White of PwC have been appointed administrators.

Supie was set up in 2021, with the mission of taking on the supermarket duopoly. In 2022, Chris Schulz wrote for The Spinoff that, “[f]or any of this to come to fruition, Supie needs many more customers, and much bigger investments”. At the time, Gemma Rasmussen, Consumer NZ’s head of communications and campaigns, said there was an “enormous benefit” to initiatives like Supie. “Anything that offers more grocery choices for New Zealanders can be counted as a win in our book.”

However, the startup struggled to meet the scale of customers and investment necessary to be competitive and earlier this year, Supie said it was under pressure from suppliers to raise its prices.

Today, the grocer’s social media and website have been removed. Stuff reports that staff were told this morning that they would not receive their last fortnight’s pay, and many were understood to be owed holiday pay.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched in cities across Europe, the Middle East and Asia over the weekend in support of the Palestinians, as Israel’s military stepped up its air and ground offensive in Gaza. Around 100,000 rallied in central London, with smaller marches in cities including Auckland, where thousands turned out to call for an immediate ceasefire.

In Gaza, telephone and internet communications were partially restored after an extended blackout that had badly impacted rescue operations. Meanwhile, with supplies of food, water and medicines running low and much of Gaza reduced to rubble, thousands of residents broke into warehouses and distribution centres of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) grabbing flour and “basic survival items”, Reuters reports.

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What was once tropical cyclone Lola has arrived in New Zealand, bringing with it heavy rain, gales, thunder storms and causing power cuts and school closures.

Metservice has described the weather moving over the top of the country as “a large, deep, complex low pressure system” while an “associated front is forecast to move slowly southwards over northern New Zealand on Monday”. Together, it’s bringing severe weather in parts of the upper North Island.

A heavy rain warning has just been lifted in Auckland but remains in place for the Coromandel Peninsula and Tairawhiti, with as much as 170 millimetres of rain expected to fall.

Whangārei’s mayor Vince Cocurullo has reported “some power outages” along with cell towers down and some tree branches on roads. “Drive safe, and be aware of the changing conditions around you,” he wrote on Facebook.

The Herald’s reported that more than 5,000 homes are without power in the far north, while another 1,100 are in the dark in Northland. Kaikohe Intermediate posted on Facebook to say it was without power and would be closed today, except for those who could not be looked after at home.

“If you have been affected due to the storm, rain and flooding in your area, please remain home today as we have no power for the day,” the school said. RNZ has reported that several schools and kindergartens in Coromandel are closed due to ongoing severe weather.

Emergency crews are out in Coromandel assessing any overnight damage. “Our main areas of concern right now are Brophy’s Beach in Whitianga and the Kauaeranga River in Thames, both may overtop when the king tide arrives at 8.50am. If this does occur both roads are likely to close,” the local Civil Defence said.

“The forecast 140mm of rain fell overnight and gale force winds gusting to 120kmh likely kept many awake.”

The Auckland Harbour Bridge will have lane and speed restrictions this morning as heavy winds move further south.