The first day of primary and intermediate teacher strikes went ahead today, with tens of thousands of teachers taking industrial action, and nearly half a million students impacted. The majority of primary and intermediate schools will be closed for one day this week, as part of rolling strikes around the country. The union's standing its ground over pay, class sizes, and the sector's ability to recruit new teachers.
And churches are being rolled into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the abuse of children in state care. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, of the 400 submissions received on the draft Terms of Reference, including churches in the inquiry was one of the strongest issues.