A shock admission from the Immigration Minister over Karel Sroubek's case. Iain Lees-Galloway has confirmed he took about an hour to decide on the convicted drug smuggler's residency, but he didn't read the whole file. Sroubek has also released his own statement today, in response to the Deputy National Leader telling Parliament yesterday, Sroubek was questioned in prison about the burglary of his ex-wife's home.
Also today: flooding, slips and wind gusts have forced road closures in the North and South Islands. Over 800 lightning strikes were recorded in Hokitika in a 20-minute period this morning.