Homicide investigation launched after man dies in Thames
Police have launched a homicide inquiry following the death of a man at Thames Hospital. Officers responded to reports of an altercation at a Rolleston Street residence on Monday afternoon. A person of interest is being sought by police.
+26 outlets · Body found at Piha Beach believed to be missing fisherman
Police discovered a body on the Piha Beach shoreline at approximately 5.10pm on Tuesday. The deceased is believed to be the fisherman who went missing last Thursday. Formal identification has not yet been completed, and police are providing support to the man's family.
4 outlets · Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming suspended during criminal investigation
Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has been suspended pending a criminal investigation into his conduct. His lawyer confirmed the suspension occurred before Christmas and that he remains on full pay. The investigation involves the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police regarding his conduct towards a former female employee.
+26 outlets · Fire crews contain bushfire in Waitākere Ranges
Fire and Emergency NZ responded to a vegetation fire near Te Aute Ridge Road and Bethells Road on Tuesday evening. Three helicopters and ground crews worked to contain the blaze, which was reported just before 6pm. Crews returned to the scene to monitor the area and dampen hotspots.
3 outlets · Author Neil Gaiman faces multiple sexual assault allegations
Fantasy author Neil Gaiman has denied allegations of sexual assault made by several women, including one from New Zealand. The accusations have resulted in the halting of film and television adaptations of his work. Gaiman stated that while he is not perfect, he has never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
3 outlets · Yellow-eyed penguins could face extinction within 20 years
The Department of Conservation warns that mainland hoiho could become extinct within two decades. Known nests have decreased by 80 per cent over the last 15 years, with only 143 nests currently recorded on mainland New Zealand and Stewart Island.
+26 outlets · Body found in Hamilton believed to be missing Tauranga man
Police believe a body found on Matangi Road in Hillcrest on Saturday is that of 45-year-old Jarrad Ormsby. Ormsby, who was last seen in Hamilton on 19 December, is not being sought in connection with any suspicious circumstances while formal identification continues.
4 outlets · Wellington experiences coldest start to summer in a decade
Wellington has endured one of its least summery starts to the year since 2014. MetService data shows the capital experienced a streak of 13 consecutive days with below-average temperatures.
4 outlets · Man charged after alleged indecent assault and aggressive behaviour in Auckland
A 45-year-old man has been arrested in Ponsonby following reports of aggressive behaviour and an alleged indecent assault. The man faces charges after several people were reportedly attacked in the suburbs of Ponsonby and Herne Bay.
3 outlets · Treaty Principles Bill submission period closes after record response
The submission period for the Treaty Principles Bill has officially ended following an unprecedented response of over 300,000 submissions. Due to the high volume, the Justice select committee will only be able to hear from a small proportion of oral submitters. The committee is expected to provide updated information following its next meeting.
3 outlets · Woman arrested after alleged stabbing on Auckland's North Shore
A woman has been arrested following an alleged stabbing on Glenfield Road on Tuesday afternoon. A man sustained a minor wound to his hand during an altercation before the woman fled to Glenfield Mall. Armed police responded to the shopping centre to locate the suspect.
3 outlets · Car crashes on railway tracks after fleeing police near Levin
A vehicle was abandoned on railway tracks in Koputāroa after the driver fled from police. The car was spotted travelling at excessive speeds around midday. The incident resulted in a train being stopped and a section of the railway being temporarily closed.
3 outlets · Police investigate unexplained death of Nelson man in Stoke home
Police are investigating the unexplained death of 55-year-old Darren James Cook. He was found on Friday at his Stoke home on Suffolk Road after officers visited for an unrelated matter. Authorities believe he had been dead for some time before being discovered.
4 outlets · Scooter rider critically injured in Burwood car crash
A scooter rider has sustained critical injuries following a collision with a car in Burwood, Christchurch. The crash occurred shortly after 1pm at the intersection of Queen Elizabeth II Drive and Travis Road. Police have closed part of State Highway 74 near Burwood Road while emergency services attend the scene.
3 outlets · Firefighters target hotspots at Coromandel scrub fire
Crews are working in arduous conditions to dampen hotspots at a vegetation fire near Kūaotunu. After breaking out on Saturday, the blaze is being monitored via thermal imaging drones. Firefighters face steep terrain, high temperatures, and strong winds as they continue their efforts.
4 outlets · Police search for man who escaped custody in Taupō
Authorities are searching for 30-year-old Samir Derek Belhajjam after he fled from a police transport vehicle outside the Taupō District Court on Monday evening. Belhajjam faces multiple charges and remains at large. Police are currently making enquiries to locate him.
3 outlets · Firefighters return to Coromandel scrub fire near Kūaotunu
Crews returned to the Black Jack fireground on Wednesday to tackle deep-seated burning. The vegetation fire, which began on Saturday, has affected an estimated nine hectares of steep terrain. Firefighters are also requesting that residents avoid flying drones due to safety risks to helicopters.
2 outlets · Comet C/2024 G3 Atlas may be visible in New Zealand skies
Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) could be visible to the naked eye in New Zealand an hour after sunset in the coming days. The comet, which reached its closest point to the Sun on Monday, originated from the Oort cloud and may not appear for another 160,000 years.
2 outlets · Locals frequently rescue vehicles stuck on Birdlings Flat beach
Residents at the Canterbury settlement of Birdlings Flat are regularly called to rescue vehicles stuck on the pebble beach. Despite warning signs, visitors continue to drive into the gravel, often resulting in expensive 4WDs becoming bogged.
3 outlets · Positive experiences can reduce obesity risk in children with trauma
New research indicates that children who undergo early traumatic experiences face a higher risk of obesity. However, Auckland University senior research fellow Ladan Hashemi suggests that this risk can be mitigated through positive childhood experiences.
2 outlets · Canterbury woman wins international world's ugliest lawn award
Leisa Elliott of Birdlings Flat has been named the winner of a global competition for the world's ugliest lawn. Her unwatered, parched grass beat entries from Australia, Africa, and Europe. Elliott chooses to mow the dry lawn without watering it.
2 outlets · Christchurch man faces legal battle over unpaid rent dispute
Neil Cameron has spent years in civil courts following a dispute over rent owed for an earthquake-damaged home. After a Tenancy Tribunal order required him to pay nearly $53,000, Cameron has faced significant legal fees and time spent in various tribunals to resolve the matter.
2 outlets · Dunedin activist pays offender levy in bag of coal
Bruce Mahalski, a Dunedin environmental activist, has paid his offender levy using a $50 note inside a bag of coal. Mahalski and five others were convicted of trespassing and obstructing a rail employee after blocking a coal train at Dunedin Railway Station in December 2021.
2 outlets · Police seize cannabis, cash and vehicles in Fitzroy search
Taranaki police arrested a man after searching a Fitzroy property on 9 January. Officers seized approximately 100 ounces of cannabis, $5,000 in cash, a Holden Colorado ute, and two Harley Davidson motorcycles.
2 outlets · Man facing indecent assault charges at Upper Hutt facility
A man living at the Te Korowai facility in Upper Hutt is facing charges for indecent assault and breaching extended supervision. The facility is located within the Rimutaka Prison grounds but sits outside the secure perimeter. The charges follow reports of suspicious behaviour in recent months.
2 outlets · Nurse Mandy Rita Simpson killed in Far North car crash
Mandy Rita Simpson, 35, died at the scene following a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 10 in Waipapa on 28 December. Simpson was a nurse at Bay of Islands Hospital and is survived by her husband and three sons.
2 outlets · Marine reptiles survived in New Zealand waters longer than elsewhere
Research into a North Canterbury fossil reveals that ichthyosaurs, marine reptiles resembling dolphins, survived in New Zealand waters long after going extinct in other areas. These creatures had begun evolving into whales before eventually dying out approximately 100 million years ago.
4 outlets · Salty sea air caused air quality breach in Awatoto
A recorded breach of air quality standards in the Awatoto industrial area near Napier was caused by salty sea air. The incident occurred due to a combination of high swells and onshore winds. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council monitors the air quality in the area.
4 outlets · Two people killed in North Canterbury car crash
Phoebe Lilly-Grace Slade, 17, and Joey Young, 20, died when a vehicle struck a power pole in North Canterbury during the early hours of Saturday. Family members have shared tributes to Slade, describing her as a talented artist and sportswoman.
3 outlets · Woman injured after crashing stolen car in central Christchurch
A woman was injured after hitting road spikes and crashing a stolen vehicle on Bealey Avenue. The car was allegedly stolen from Breens Road in Burnside before the incident occurred. Police are currently making inquiries into the crash.
2 outlets · Wellington residents oppose tree removal at Wellington Girls' College
Work has begun to remove up to eight trees from Wellington Girls' College to allow for a new court cover. Local residents have expressed concerns that the felling will damage the suburb's character and aesthetic. One resident described the removal as environmental vandalism.
3 outlets · Māori trust chief executive blindsided by Desert Road closure
The chief executive of Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust, Topia Rameka, says he was unaware of plans to close the Desert Road for two months of maintenance. Waka Kotahi announced the State Highway 1 closure between Tūrangi and Waiouru, prompting criticism regarding the level of consultation provided.
+15 outlets · Man killed in rural Canterbury crash identified
Police have identified 57-year-old Christchurch resident Peter John Rogers as the man who died in a two-vehicle crash. The incident occurred on Old West Coast Road in Darfield at approximately 11am on New Year's Day.
3 outlets · Kane Williamson among nine New Zealanders signed for Pakistan Super League
Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson has signed with the Karachi Kings for the Pakistan T20 Super League. He is one of nine New Zealanders participating in the tournament after missing out on the Indian Premier League. Williamson was signed in the top platinum category for a contract worth $360,000.
2 outlets · Michael Curtis remains in prison for Nia Glassie murder
Michael Curtis, one of the brothers convicted of killing toddler Nia Glassie, did not seek parole during a recent hearing. He will undergo psychological sessions and violence programmes before appearing before the Parole Board again in July 2026.
3 outlets · Auckland central city can be 3C hotter at night
New research shows Auckland's central city can be up to three degrees warmer at night than other areas due to the urban heat island effect. The study found significant temperature variations between locations just a few blocks apart, particularly in areas with many hard surfaces.
2 outlets · Scientists depart Wellington for six-week Antarctic research voyage
A group of 20 local and international scientists is beginning a six-week mission to Antarctica's Ross Sea. Departing from Wellington on Tuesday, the team will use the NIWA research vessel Tangaroa to study the impacts of climate change.
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