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9 Jul 2025

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What ex-politician Kiri Allan told police on night of arrest
Police say former Justice Minister was "verbally abusive" after crashing into a parked car.

Serious crash closes major Hamilton intersection
Police are advising motorist to avoid an intersection on the northern edge of Hamilton city while emergency services attend a serious crash.

Hamilton main road closed after serious crash
Motorists were asked to avoid the area after a crash at the intersection of Willoughby and Mill streets.

Piha Bunker House short-listed in 'Olympics of architecture'
The unique, dark structure took architectural designer Chris Tate hours to conceive but 14 years to build by the black sand beach.

French rugby team turns nose up at Hamilton ahead of test
Hamilton residents and business owners say it's the Les Bleus' loss if they won't stay in Hamilton before the final test match against the All Blacks on 19 July.

Best Prime Day computer deals: Gaming & mainstream desktop PCs
Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 sales event is in full swing and there are tons of great deals on desktop PCs available. This year, Prime Day runs from July 8 to July 11, and includes solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional mainstream desktop computers. You’ll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of Amazon’s steep discounts. If you aren’t a member already, check out our guide for how to get Amazon Prime for free. I’ve been tracking and writing about the best computer deals year-round for a long time now, and at PCWorld I’ve used this knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals across the internet specifically for this Prime Day. Other retailers have jumped in on the Prime Day action, and some of the best desktop PC deals can even be found outside of Amazon, so I’ve included those deals too. Best Prime Day deals on gaming desktop computers CyberPowerPC Gamer Master, Ryzen 7 8700F/RTX 5060 Ti/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,009.99 (15% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 7 265F/RTX 5070 Ti/32GB/1TB SSD, $1,899.99 (17% off on Dell) CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme, Core i7-14700F/RTX 5060 Ti/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,155.99 (15% off on Amazon) LXZ Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 8700F/RX 7650 GRE/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $879.99 (20% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 9 285K/RTX 5080/64GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,674.99 (21% off on Dell) Alienware Area-51, Core Ultra 9 285K/RTX 5090/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $4,699.99 (15% off on Dell) Skytech Azure, Ryzen 5 7600X/RTX 5070/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,749.99 (17% off on Amazon) MSI Aegis ZS2, Ryzen 7 7700/RTX 5070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,699.99 (15% off on BestBuy) Ningmei Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 5700X/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.99 (21% off on Walmart) My top picks: For those on a budget, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Master deal for $180 off is currently the deal to get on Prime Day right now. It packs a Ryzen 7 8700F and the latest-gen RTX 5060 Ti making it perfect for high framerate 1080p gaming at an affordable price. You could instead opt for the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme which swaps out the Ryzen CPU for an Intel Core i7-14700F giving you a bit better gaming performance for a bit more money. Dell is running fantastic deals on their Alienware line of gaming PCs, but one of the best is the Alienware Aurora for $400 off on its website. Rocking a Core Ultra 7 265F and RTX 5070 Ti, this is a killer value for a strong midrange build with a latest-gen GPU. Alternatively, if you want something even more powerful than the other Alienware Aurora model for $725 is the cheapest you’re going to get for a gaming desktop with these higher-end components—a Core Ultra 9 285K and RTX 5080 plus an epic 64GB of RAM are a steal at this price. Best Prime Day deals on mini-PCs Acemagician Matrix M1, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H/16GB DDR5 RAM/512GB SSD/triple display support, $278.10 (30% off on Amazon) Bosgame P4 Light, AMD Ryzen 7 5700U/32GB DDR4 RAM/1TB SSD/triple display support, $284.99 (29% off on Amazon) Beelink SER5 MAX, AMD Ryzen 7 6800U/24GB DDR5 RAM/500GB SSD/triple display support, $299.00 (25% off on Amazon) Kamrui E3B, AMD Ryzen 7 5700U/32GB DDR4 RAM/512GB SSD/triple display support, $319.93 (26% off on Amazon) AtomMan G7, Ryzen 9 7945HX/RX 7600M/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/triple display support, $1,055.90 (20% off on Amazon) The best of the bunch is the Acemagician Matrix M1 for $91 off on Amazon. Running a Ryzen 7 6800H, with 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD, this is a great daily driver at an impeccable price. It even supports three 4K displays allowing you to multitask to your heart’s content. The Bosgame P4 for $114 off on Amazon is another great deal, especially since it delivers a full TB of storage space at this price point. Note: If you’re looking for even more great deals on mini-PCs be sure to check out our full roundup spotlighting the very best Prime Day mini-PC deals. Best Prime Day deals on all-in-one & mainstream computers All-in-one desktop computers combine a PC’s hardware with a modern display to make a desktop computer that has both form and function. Since everything is built together, you can save precious desktop space with an all-in-one. They make capable work computers and they can also be excellent home computers with the wide range of features appealing to the whole family. Dell 24 AiO, Core 5 120U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p touch display, $849.99 (24% off on Dell) HP OmniStudio X AiO, Core Ultra 7 155H/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/27-inch 1080p touch display, $1,029.99 (28% off on HP) HP AiO 24, Core Ultra 5 125U/8GB RAM/512GB RAM/24-inch 1080p display, $629.99 (32% off on HP) Dell 24 AiO, Core i5-1334U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $699.99 (18% off on Dell) Lenovo 24 AiO, Intel N100/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $559.99 (20% off on Amazon) iMac M4, M4/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,541.88 (9% off on Amazon) My top picks: Dell’s reliable 24 AiO is $200 off on its website right now. The always dependable all-in-one comes loaded with the latest-gen Core 5 120U and a handy 1080p touch display. Alternatively, the new HP OmniStudio X AiO model for $460 off on HP’s website is a step up from the Dell if you prefer spending a tad more for more power. The latest all-in-one from HP still comes with a nice 1080p touch display but is powered by the beefier Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and twice the onboard SSD storage. Mini PCs Acemagician Matrix M1 – AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD, triple display support – $278.09 (30% off, was $399) Kamrui E3B – AMD Ryzen 5 7430U, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, triple display support – $224.09 (36% off, was $350) Kamrui GK3 Plus – Intel Alder Lake N95, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, triple display support – $150 (29% off, was $210) GMKTec M2 Pro – Intel Core i7 1195G7, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, triple display support – $420 (34% off, was $640) GMKTec M3 Plus – Intel Core i9 12900HK, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 2TB SSD, triple display support – $529.99 (17% off, was $640) Mini PCs are hot right now — the only thing hotter is these Prime Day discounts. Because of that, we’ve split out a separate roundup of the best Prime Day mini PC deals. The selection above are highlight (especially that Acemagician Matrix M1) but just the tip of the iceberg. Other great Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best Amazon Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best USB flash drive deals for Prime Day 2025 Best monitor deals for Prime Day 2025: OLED, home office, and more Best Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks Best Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks FAQ 1. What type of desktop computer should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, mainstream PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a mainstream PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should prioritize getting the best GPU possible. 2. How much processing power will I need in a desktop computer? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. Intel processors are available in the newer Core Ultra 3, 5, 7, or 9, and the older Core i3, i5, i7, and i9. AMD processors are available in the Ryzen 5000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 versions. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU for both manufacturers. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core Ultra 5 or Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core Ultra 3 or Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. A Core Ultra 7 or Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Also, if gaming is your concern, you may want to consider opting for the older Core i-processors as the newer Core Ultra processors are optimized for AI performance rather than gaming. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 5000 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7000 or 8000 chips are well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video or want peak gaming performance, spring for a Ryzen 9000. 3. What GPU should I get for a desktop computer? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 or RTX 5060 as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. For 1440p gaming you’ll typically want to aim for an RTX 4070/5070, and for 4K gaming you’ll need to shell out for at least an RTX 4080/5080 or upgrade to the RTX 4090/5090 Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have dropped significantly in price in pre-built systems so opt for those if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. How much memory do I need in a desktop computer? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB may suffice but you’ll likely notice a performance drop if you tend to have multiple applications or browser tabs open. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for at least 32GB or go for 64GB for 4K editing. 5. What is a good amount of storage for a desktop computer? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. 6. Will tariffs affect desktop computer prices? Yes, it’s likely that any tariffs on foreign imported computer materials or products is going to lead to an increase in prices for the consumer. As the U.S. still heavily relies on China and other Asian countries for the production of desktops and computer hardware, a tariff on imports from these countries will mean someone has to pay more. Companies typically don’t want, or can’t afford, to eat these increased costs so they shift the burden to consumers. At this point it’s still hard to tell how much prices will increase; just because a 20 percent tariff is imposed doesn’t mean computers will become that much more expensive. Every company will adjust prices differently and products with many individual components—such as computers—will vary due to the tariff effects on each component. That being said, a recent independent Consumer Technology Association study concluded that desktops may see price increases of up to 24% or an average of $287 per computer if the latest round of tariffs hold. 7. Is now a good time to buy a desktop computer? While the prospect of tariff-induce price increases may seem daunting to consumers, I believe the timing on this Prime Day may actually make for a great time to buy a new desktop if you time it right. Currently, tariffs have been paused until July 9 with many countries scrambling to make deals exempting technology products. This means that you might have a small window to get in and snag a good deal on a desktop PC during Prime Day before any additional tariffs take effect.

Woman killed by elephant remembered as an 'inspiration that we can all do more'
Alison Taylor has been remembered as a cheerful and compassionate person.

Black Caps opener ruled out of tri-series
A foot injury means the Black Caps will be without one of their biggest hitters.

Three youths flee from Oranga Tamariki remand home
The agency says it was alerted by the one of its contracted providers after the trio left a community based remand home.

Toast Martinborough cancels November festival
The festival scheduled for November 15 has been cancelled, organisers said in an announcement.

Three youths flee from Oranga Tamariki remand home
Oranga Tamariki is searching for three young people who ran away from a youth home in Auckland yesterday.

Best Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks 2025
The ergonomics of your desk and chair greatly influence how good you feel after a long session at your PC. But you don’t have to spend a ton on an office chair or standing desk—especially not right now, while Amazon Prime Day is in full swing. Discounts have popped for popular chairs and desks, and not just on Amazon. Deals include fan favorites like Staples’ Hyken, which is back down to nearly its all-time low. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on office chairs Staples Cartwright Task Chair, Black – $50 (58% off at Staples) Staples Hyken Mesh Task Chair, Black – $120 (60% off at Staples) Staples Dexley Mesh Task Chair, Black – $160 (50% off at Staples) HON Crio High Back Task Chair, Black – $207.51 (15% off) HON Ignition 2.0 Armless Office Chair, Black – $331.07 (15% off) Staples always gives Amazon a run for its money with sales on affordable office chairs, and three of its more popular chairs are close (if not at) all-time low prices. Reddit’s beloved Hyken model leads the pack, with its wider-frame Dexley chair also on a sizable discount. Meanwhile, the more premium HON Ignition 2.0 is at its lowest sale price yet. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on standing desks Dekhaoxe 31?x15? Adjustable Height Mobile Computer Desk, White – $50 (38% off) Sweetcrispy 40?x24? Electric Standing Desk, Rustic Brown – $85 (15% off) Flexispot 48?x24? sit-stand desk, Black – $100 (41% off) ErGear 48?x24? Adjustable electric standing desk, Black – $99.98 (17% off) Fezibo 42?x24? Adjustable electric standing desk, Rustic brown – $80 (33% off) Comhoma 48?x24? Adjustable electric standing desk with monitor stand, White – $189 (30% off) Claiks 48?x24? Adjustable electric standing desk, Rusic Brown – $15.99 (20% off) Huanuo 48?x24? Adjustable electric standing desk, Black – $109.98 (31% off) Flexispot’s standing desks start at much lower prices than competitors, making them popular among Amazon shoppers to begin with. With additional discounts, they’re a great entry into motorized sit-stand setups. Other great Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best Amazon Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best Prime Day PC computer deals: Gaming & mainstream desktops Best Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best USB flash drive deals for Prime Day 2025 Best monitor deals for Prime Day 2025: OLED, home office, and more Best Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks Best Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks Standing desks and office chairs FAQ 1. What features should I look for in a standing desk? We like dual motor standing desks with programmable controls—they’re a little more expensive, but moving the desk up and down is smoother. Their frames usually have a better build overall, too, making for less wobble during height adjustments and while in use. Programmable controls means you can go back and forth between two or even three height positions with a single button press, which makes for much better quality of life. No need to wait and monitor the adjustment as it’s happening. (That might sound like not such a big deal, but if you do it multiple times a day over the course of the year, those seconds feel tedious. Trust me on this one.) 2. What makes for a good office chair? This question can be tricky to answer, since what’s comfortable is a little different for everyone. Generally, you want enough support for your back so it doesn’t take on a hunched position, but not so much you can’t feel relaxed while sitting. You also ideally want to keep pressure off your lower back if you’ll be sitting for long periods—office chairs usually have seats shaped for this, rather than the flatter surfaces of kitchen and casual desk chairs. Armrests, head supports, and mesh fabric can also play a role in comfort, but you may want to try out those features on a sample chair that a friend owns or in a store to see if you need those features. The mesh is particularly good if you sweat or get warm. Wheeled models are also useful for easily moving the chair—and you can upgrade the casters, as Reddit recommends for an even smoother experience. 3. How do I know if I’m getting a good deal on standing desks or office chairs during Prime Day? The deals we select are chosen not just for the product, but because their prices are among the lowest we’ve seen, especially given the pricing history over the last year. If you’re striking out on your own, be sure to look at reviews, as well as Amazon’s AI summaries of user reviews—avoid anything with high return rates, or a known flaw. Also look for brands with not just high user reviews, but independent reviews online. Many standing desks are just rebranded models, and so too for cheaper desk chairs. 4. Will tariffs affect office chair and standing desk prices? Should I buy now? Very possibly yes. A high portion of manufacturing happens overseas, and the U.S. government intends to resume imposing sizable taxes on imports from many countries on July 9. If that happens, costs for goods will likely rise over the second part of 2025—and because most items won’t jump in price immediately, choosing to shop sooner rather than later could be the savvier financial move.