The Christchurch firefighting community is mourning the loss of a 31-year-old fireman who has left behind a young family.

A woman considered to be one of New Zealand’s worst “serial and prolific” shoplifters took nearly $8500 worth of clothes from Auckland’s David Jones store in a single day.

A Christchurch National Party MP who is part of a secretive sect being probed for historical child sexual abuse says he had a happy upbringing in the group and regards his beliefs as a private matter.