Multi-millionaire couple Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams have not taken up the chance to personally convince a hearing they should be granted a suburban helipad.

Police say a teenage thief had shoplifted thousands of dollars worth of groceries before they tracked him down in Auckland last week.

A leading health systems expert is questioning the Government's claim of "record investment" in the public system, saying the real increase to the health budget this year is half of what the government claims.