Police Commissioner cancels directive regarding retail crime thresholds
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has cancelled a directive that instructed staff not to investigate certain retail crimes below specific value thresholds. He described the memo as confusing and unhelpful, noting it was inconsistent with his expectations. Chambers has requested that district commanders continue to catch offenders regardless of the thresholds.
+15 outlets · Police name victim in Horeke homicide investigation
Northland police have identified 77-year-old Daniel Hepehi, also known as Danny Whiston, as the victim of a homicide in Horeke. He was found with critical injuries at a Waikerikeri Road property on 22 May and died at the scene. Police are now seeking sightings of a green and gold 4WD SUV, registration LCP129.
4 outlets · Nelson artwork featuring New Zealand flag sparks controversy
An art installation by Diane Prince featuring a New Zealand flag with the words 'please walk on me' has caused offence in Nelson. The work has drawn criticism from the local RSA and a councillor, while the Deputy Mayor has defended the piece as artistic expression.
+15 outlets · Customs seize $50 million worth of cocaine at Port of Tauranga
Customs officers discovered 130kg of cocaine hidden in duffel bags inside a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga. The container, which was loaded with machinery, arrived from Italy via Panama. The bricks of cocaine were marked with a lion image and the branding 'GGG'.
4 outlets · Three-vehicle crash blocks Cobham Drive bridge in Hamilton East
A three-vehicle crash near the Cobham Drive bridge in Hamilton East caused significant traffic delays on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services were alerted to the incident around 1:20pm, and one person was reported to be in serious condition.
4 outlets · Teenager dies after head injury during tackle game in Palmerston North
Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, has died in hospital after sustaining a serious head injury on Sunday. He was playing a tackle game based on a social media trend with friends in Palmerston North when the incident occurred. Police have urged people to consider the safety risks associated with such activities.
+15 outlets · Man charged after street racing gathering in Hamilton leaves teen injured
A 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a large gathering of anti-social road users on Airport Road on Saturday night. A teenager was seriously injured after being struck by a car performing burnouts. Police have launched a significant investigation into the incident, which involved hundreds of vehicles.
4 outlets · Man charged with arson after serious Nelson house fire
A 47-year-old man has been charged with arson following a suspicious house fire on Konini Street last Wednesday. One person was seriously injured in the blaze and taken to hospital. Police are now appealing for witnesses and asking residents to check their properties for unfamiliar items.
+15 outlets · Winston Peters rules out working with Chris Hipkins in future coalition
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has stated he will not work with Labour leader Chris Hipkins in any future government. Mr Hipkins has responded to the claim, stating it is highly unlikely that his position regarding a partnership with Mr Peters will change before the next election.
+15 outlets · Former doctor Samantha Bailey fined for HIV denialism claims
Former TVNZ presenter and doctor Samantha Bailey has been fined after claiming in YouTube videos that HIV does not exist. Although her medical registration was cancelled in 2021, she has continued to refer to herself as a doctor. Her claims also included assertions that gonorrhoea is not sexually transmitted.
3 outlets · Erin Patterson questioned during police raid of Victorian home
Court proceedings have revealed that Erin Patterson asked detectives who had died during a raid of her Leongatha home. Police searched the property following a lunch involving a beef Wellington believed to contain toxic mushrooms. The investigation follows the deaths of three people.
2 outlets · Ryan Satterthwaite dies after head injury during tackle game
Nineteen-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite has died after suffering a serious head injury during a private 'run it straight' style tackle game in Palmerston North. The incident occurred on Sunday while he was playing with friends. Satterthwaite was a former student of Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
4 outlets · Air New Zealand to reintroduce jet services on Hamilton-Christchurch route
Air New Zealand will begin operating 171-seat Airbus A320 flights between Hamilton and Christchurch from 18 September. This marks the return of domestic jet services to Hamilton after 25 years. The new jet services will run alongside existing ATR 72 turboprop flights to increase capacity.
3 outlets · Man dies following injury at Allandale property
A man in his 60s has died after sustaining critical injuries at a property in Allandale, near Governors Bay. Emergency services were called to the scene on Monday evening. Police say the death appears to be accidental, though investigations are ongoing.
3 outlets · Department of Conservation proposes cutting 84 jobs
The Department of Conservation is consulting staff on a proposal to remove 84 positions, which would primarily affect women. These cuts follow previous proposals to meet a government requirement for a 6.5 per cent spending reduction. The affected roles span 38 locations across the country.
+15 outlets · Tauranga council debates cost of portable toilets for Blake Park
Tauranga Netball has requested $20,000 from the council to lease five portaloos for Blake Park in Mount Maunganui. The request follows concerns that the current six toilets are inadequate for the facility's 4,000 users. Mayor Mahé Drysdale has questioned the cost of the six-month lease.
4 outlets · Debate over stacking stones on Lake Tekapo foreshore
Lake Tekapo residents are calling for a ban on visitors stacking rocks along the foreshore to protect the natural ecosystem. While locals express environmental concerns, experts remain divided on whether these structures are causing harm.
3 outlets · State Highway 6 remains closed due to slips and flooding
Heavy rain and wind have caused flooding in Nelson and Westport, alongside multiple slips on State Highway 6. The road through Lower Buller Gorge remains closed between Inangahua Junction and Westport while authorities assess the damage. MetService has issued heavy rain watches as another wet front is expected.
4 outlets · Gloriavale apology offer described as a PR stunt by former members
Former members claim Gloriavale's public offer to personally apologise to abuse victims was a PR stunt. This follows reports that leaders refused to apologise despite a public offer made by the Overseeing Shepherd regarding abuse occurring between 1950 and 1999.
+15 outlets · Gisborne Hospital doctors strike over staffing shortages
Fifty senior doctors at Gisborne Hospital began a 24-hour strike on Wednesday 28 May. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists warned the hospital is on the brink of collapse due to high vacancy rates. While some doctors are striking, several will remain on duty in the Emergency Department.
2 outlets · Crown observer warns of party politics risks at Wellington City Council
Crown-appointed observer Lindsay McKenzie has warned that party politics at Wellington City Council poses governance challenges. While McKenzie cautioned councillors against letting affiliations sway decision-making, some critics argue party labels serve as important signals for voters. Recent polling indicates most Wellingtonians believe party politics do not belong in local government.
2 outlets · Gisborne District Council awarded $51,000 in Environment Court decision
The Gisborne District Council will recover approximately $51,000 in legal and expert witness costs from China Forestry Group and Wood Marketing Services. The decision follows enforcement actions taken by the council across several forests. Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti was also awarded $8,500 in the same ruling.
2 outlets · Wellington kura to receive $35 million upgrade after decades of waiting
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna in Seatoun will undergo a $35 million renovation. Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the new build on Tuesday, which will replace dilapidated classrooms with facilities including a library and multipurpose space.
2 outlets · Fighter at unregulated backyard brawl event referred to police
A participant in a recent unregulated backyard fight contest has been referred to the police. The man, understood to be a senior Mongrel Mob member from the Bay of Plenty, was seen wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet during the event.
+15 outlets · Dunedin students report mould and frequent landlord entries
Students in a Dunedin rental have reported issues with rubbish and mould. Security cameras recorded a landlord entering the property 84 times during an 11-day period. One tenant is now speaking out about the ordeal to warn others.
2 outlets · Dunedin Irish pub faces licence suspension over blocked fire exits
The Bog Irish Bar in central Dunedin faces a potential alcohol licence suspension after inspectors found two of its three fire exits were locked or pad-bolted shut. Operators have described the situation as a profound wake-up call following the discovery.
2 outlets · Record number of hihi fledglings recorded on Tiritiri Matangi Island
A record-breaking breeding season on Tiritiri Matangi Island has produced 277 hihi fledglings. To support the species, 40 of these birds were recently moved to Shakespear Open Sanctuary on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula to bolster their population.
2 outlets · Manukau Supa Centa sold to Property Income Fund for $161m
The Manukau Supa Centa has been sold to the Wellington-based Property Income Fund for $161 million. The large retail centre is fully leased and contains 44 tenants, including a 24-hour Kmart.
2 outlets · Luxon and Willis to speak in Auckland following Budget announcement
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis are scheduled to address the media in Auckland. The pair are visiting Griffins Foods in Papakura following the government's Budget announcement regarding new tax incentives for businesses.
2 outlets · Lower North Island leaders criticise proposed Ōtaki to Levin expressway changes
Regional leaders have written to the government to oppose a downgrade of the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway. The revised design includes removing on-ramps and overbridges, reducing the northern end to two lanes, and adding a roundabout to State Highway 1.
2 outlets · Northland heart patients face longer waits than those in Auckland
Specialists and patients report that heart patients in Northland face greater difficulties accessing specialist care compared to those in Auckland. Recent data shows more Northlanders are waiting over three months for initial appointments. Health NZ states there is no difference in treatment thresholds between the two regions, while recruitment for a sixth specialist is underway.
2 outlets · Christchurch foodbank staff devastated after thieves steal food supplies
Two individuals wearing gloves and balaclavas broke into the Hoon Hay Foodbank in Christchurch on Sunday night. The thieves damaged locks to access the walk-in freezer and chiller, stealing frozen and chilled food intended for hundreds of families in need.
2 outlets · Coroner rules toddler's death in Whanganui septic tank a tragic accident
A coroner has ruled that 22-month-old Kelvin Chand died by drowning after falling into a septic tank on his family's Whanganui property in 2023. The report described the event as a tragic accident and emphasised the importance of highlighting outdoor safety risks for young children.
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