Five important events that happened today: Tuesday, October 22

Government meddling in Wellington City Council, dozens of arrests amid search warrants for mob sites, and what’s in the government’s new $3 school lunches?

1 Government appoints Crown observer to Wellington City Council

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has written to Wellington City Council with draft terms of reference and given the council 10 working days to respond, as required by law.

The move follows months of controversy over the council’s long-term plan. A planned sale of the council’s stake in Wellington Airport, initiated by Mayor Tory Whānau, was scuppered at the last minute after a vote by councilors earlier this month.

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2 Bandit raids foil Tanguy shooting and attempted murder – police

Thirty search warrants were executed today in the East Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo and Hawke’s Bay as part of Operation Highwater, launched late last year following a rise in violent crime and other offenses in Opiki.

Police said the “concentrated operation targeted members and associates of the East Bay chapter of the Mongrel Mob Barbarian MC.”

The search warrants were the result of a 10-month investigation during which incidents of serious violence were identified and prevented, a police spokesman said.

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3 Liam Payne died from “pink cocaine” in his system – what is it?

Former One Direction star Liam Payne was reported to have several drugs in his system when he died in Argentina last week, including “pink cocaine”, an illegal synthetic drug of growing concern in some parts of the world.

Pink cocaine was first reported in South America in 2018 but has since spread throughout the world, according to New Zealand’s early drug warning system High Alert.

Overseas, pink cocaine is usually a mixture of ketamine, MDMA and caffeine, says New Zealand Drug Foundation chief executive Sarah Helm.

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4 Young people climb down from the roof of the Auckland Justice Building

Oranga Tamariki reported the incident to police in Wiri at around 6.40pm, which involved 13 young people. A 1News cameraman who arrived at the scene overnight said the group was making jokes at KFC, swearing and being disrespectful, adding that they damaged parts of the roof.

Children’s Minister Karen Chur called the incident “totally unacceptable” but said “we have come a long way.”

“I am very proud of the way the staff handled this incident.”

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5 Former Greens MP Darlene Tana expelled from Parliament

Tana left the party in July after an investigation into what she knew about allegations of exploitation of migrants at her husband’s business.

Green Party delegates agreed last week that she should be removed from Parliament using so-called “vaca-hopping” legislation.

Speaker Gerry Brownlee announced today that her seat has become vacant.

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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNMENT $3 SCHOOL LUNCH?

Deputy Education Minister David Seymour said businesses were working with the government to “transform” the existing program, “benefiting children and saving taxpayers money”.

“Every student who receives a school lunch today will continue to do so from the first day of the first term next year,” he said.

“The program will provide nutritious hot and cold meals such as butter chicken curry, chicken katsu, lasagna, chicken pasta salad and wraps. Each of these dishes will cost $3.

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ONE RECORD LOTTO

The Powerball lottery jackpot has topped $30 million for the fourth time this year, an “unprecedented” period.

“Wednesday’s drawing will again feature $30 million, following three previous major jackpot wins in April, June and August.

“We’ve never seen a streak like this before in our history,” said head of corporate communications Will Hein.

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