Construction resumes on new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building
Work is restarting on the new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building this month, beginning with a six-month phase of piling and concrete pouring. Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the resumption of the project, which is expected to be completed in 2031.
+26 outlets · Queenstown landlord fined for operating unlawful boarding house
James Truong has been ordered to pay more than $113,000 for breaching the Residential Tenancies Act. He housed 22 mainly migrant workers in a five-bedroom house, converted garages and a shed. The Tenancy Tribunal also ordered him to refund 40 per cent of the rent collected from the tenants.
+26 outlets · Police investigate multiple fractures suffered by Hutt Valley baby girl
Police are investigating after a three-month-old baby girl was taken to hospital by her family on 14 June with multiple fractures. Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wescott stated that investigators do not believe the injuries were accidental. Police are now appealing to the public for information regarding the incident.
+15 outlets · New Bluebridge ferry Livia arrives in Wellington
The Livia, a new Cook Strait ferry, arrived at Oriental Bay in Wellington on Thursday morning. The vessel travelled from Denmark via the Panama Canal to join the Bluebridge fleet. It is expected to replace the Strait Feronia later this year, providing increased capacity for passengers and freight.
4 outlets · Prominent New Zealander appears in court under continued name suppression
A prominent New Zealander appeared via audio-visual link in the Wellington District Court this morning. The man, who was arrested last week, faces several serious charges but has not yet entered pleas. Court orders continue to prohibit the media from publishing his name or the specific details of the charges.
+48 outlets · Man charged with manslaughter after fatal Southland ute crash
A 20-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter following a single-vehicle rollover in Southland on 15 February. The crash on the Niagara-Tokanui Highway killed Jack Victor Hugh Stephens and injured two other people. The incident occurred between McManus Road and Quarry Hills Fortification Road.
+15 outlets · Woman charged after newborn baby's body found in Auckland wheelie bin
A 32-year-old woman has been charged with interfering with human remains after a newborn baby's body was discovered in a wheelie bin on Renall Street in Freemans Bay. Police launched a homicide investigation on Tuesday night following the discovery. The woman has been excused from appearing in court.
4 outlets · Overseas Kiwis face rising student loan debt due to penalties
A former IRD prosecutor is calling for student loan system reforms to prevent overseas New Zealanders from being deterred from returning home. Recent interest rate increases for overseas borrowers and late payment penalties have caused some debts to balloon, leading to fears of arrest at the border.
4 outlets · Evacuations begin in Tasman ahead of further heavy rain
Residents in the upper South Island are preparing for another major downpour following recent flooding. Civil Defence has warned those in affected areas to prepare for further inundation, with six homes near the Motueka River evacuated on Wednesday night.
+15 outlets · Pensioner moves from leaky caravan to Katikati elder housing village
Steven Connelly, 67, has moved into a new home at the Katikati elder housing village. He previously lived in a leaky caravan without power for six years. The move follows a waitlist period of up to four years.
4 outlets · Nelson man sentenced to home detention for passport fraud
Dane Moule was sentenced in the Nelson District Court for forging two passports to travel between New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji over three years. The 61-year-old received 12 months of home detention rather than prison due to his age and health. He used the documents to attempt to see his son.
3 outlets · Police investigate series of suspicious fires in Northland
Northland Police are appealing for information following a spate of suspicious fires over the last seven months. The most recent incident involved approximately 15 traffic cones being taken and set alight on Pataua North Road in Whareora.
3 outlets · Parole denied for Dunedin man behind $15.7 million Ponzi scheme
The Parole Board has denied parole for Barry Kloogh, a Dunedin financial adviser jailed for running a $15.7 million Ponzi scheme. The board stated that Kloogh lacks insight into his crimes, which have reportedly wrecked the lives of many victims.
3 outlets · Tauranga residents fear for safety after multiple crashes on Courtney Road
Residents in Gate Pā are concerned for their safety following repeated vehicle crashes on a bend in Courtney Road. In the past year, cars have ploughed into a local resident's retaining wall on three separate occasions.
3 outlets · Former Christchurch sex industry figure Terry Brown has died
Terry Rex Brown, a former Christchurch brothel owner and sex industry figure, has died. He was reportedly connected to various strip clubs, massage parlours, and organised crime. Brown had previously declared bankruptcy in 2001 following an investigation.
3 outlets · Ministry says proposed citizen's arrest changes may not improve safety
The justice ministry has analysed proposed changes to citizen's arrest laws and found they are unlikely to significantly impact public safety. The analysis warned that the changes could increase the risk of people using unreasonable force, especially against children.
3 outlets · Heritage-listed Cardrona Hotel goes on the market
The 162-year-old Cardrona Hotel near Wānaka is being offered for sale for the first time in over ten years. Expressions of interest open this Friday, with owners requesting that potential buyers submit offers to them directly rather than through real estate agents.
2 outlets · Gloriavale school fails second Education Review Office audit
The Education Review Office reported that Gloriavale School failed three of eight registration criteria during a review at the end of 2024. While the West Coast school showed improvement since its 2023 audit, it still lacks suitable resourcing for students with complex additional needs.
2 outlets · Electricity restored to Motueka residents after flood damage
Power has been restored to Motueka residents five days after debris in the Motueka River tore out power lines. Residents had been relying on generators and neighbours for assistance after the South Island deluge damaged power poles near their homes.
2 outlets · Government focuses on cost of living in next quarter
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the government will continue to prioritise cost of living pressures. Upcoming plans include repealing the oil and gas exploration ban, addressing supermarket competition, and making changes to the Resource Management Act.
2 outlets · Ferrari crashes into parked Honda Civic in Auckland
A $1 million Ferrari has crashed into a parked 1995 Honda Civic in Newmarket, Auckland. The owner, Aldrin Mariano, reported that his vehicle was destroyed in the collision. The incident occurred while the Honda was parked on a street.
2 outlets · Green MP questions police data regarding crime reduction
Lawrence Xu-Nan has dismissed police figures showing a decrease in crime within beat patrol areas. The data suggests robberies have dropped by 25% in Auckland and 22% in Wellington over the past year.
2 outlets · Minister briefed on death of baby found in Auckland bin
The Minister for Mental Health has been briefed following the discovery of a newborn baby's body in a wheelie bin in Auckland. A 32-year-old woman has been charged with interfering with human remains between 24 and 30 June.
3 outlets · West Coast MP calls for fast-track mining consent system
Maureen Pugh is advocating for a local fast-track system to reduce delays for miners. Some miners are reportedly paying up to $20,000 annually for rights to land they cannot yet access due to consent processing delays.
3 outlets · Severed cable causes communications outage in Golden Bay
A severed fibreoptic cable at Uruwhenua Bridge has disrupted mobile phone, internet, and 111 services across much of Golden Bay. The damage, possibly caused by a slip, occurred following heavy rain and flooding in the Tasman region.
2 outlets · Western Bay of Plenty nears regional deal for homes and jobs
The Western Bay of Plenty has signed a memorandum of understanding to negotiate a regional deal with the Government. The proposed agreement aims to deliver 40,000 new homes and 35,000 jobs. This follows the signing of similar memoranda for Auckland and Otago/Central Lakes.
2 outlets · Woolworths apologises after sending $15 voucher emails to 500,000 members
Around 500,000 Everyday Rewards members mistakenly received emails claiming they had a $15 voucher to spend. The messages were intended only for a small number of new members, but were sent much more widely due to human error.
2 outlets · Armed police respond to emergency at Ōtāhuhu train station
Armed police attended an emergency on a train at Ōtāhuhu Station on Thursday afternoon. The response followed reports of a man making loud, threatening comments at Ōrākei Station before boarding a train. Auckland Transport indicated that train services may experience delays as operations return to normal.
2 outlets · Four dead and dozens missing after ferry sinks near Bali
Four people have died and 38 remain missing after a ferry sank near the Indonesian island of Bali. The vessel, carrying 65 people, sank shortly after departing Ketapang port in East Java on Wednesday. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.
2 outlets · Logging truck driver dies in Wairoa Valley crash
A driver has died following a logging truck rollover on Wairoa Gorge Road in Tasman on Thursday morning. Emergency services arrived shortly after 9.30am, but the driver could not be revived. The serious crash unit is investigating the incident and the road remains closed.
2 outlets · Speed limits lifted to 100km/h at new Piarere roundabout
The speed limit has been increased to 100km/h on approach roads to the new State Highway 1 and 29 intersection in Waikato. This follows 17 months of construction work on the roundabout and connecting roads at Piarere.
2 outlets · Sir Ian Taylor writes open letter to Jacinda Ardern
Sir Ian Taylor has penned an open letter to former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Taylor, the founder of Animation Research, described the letter as the most difficult he has written to her. The correspondence follows his recent appearance before the Royal Commission investigating the handling of the Covid pandemic.
2 outlets · Adam Hall selected for record-equalling sixth Winter Paralympics
Para alpine skier Adam Hall has been named for the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics in Italy next year. The Dunedin-born athlete will compete in the men's slalom and giant slalom standing events. This marks Hall's sixth appearance at the Winter Paralympic Games.
2 outlets · Wairoa school expresses frustration over timing of ERO evaluation
Nuhaka School, which was damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle, has criticised the Education Review Office for the timing of its evaluation. The school has been operating from a temporary site after flooding twice since February 2023. More than 100 students are currently waiting for the school to be rebuilt.
3 outlets · Waitangi Tribunal considers claim over Pātea seabed mining project
Ngāti Ruanui has filed a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal seeking an urgent hearing regarding a shallow-seabed mining project. The proposal by Trans-Tasman Resources was approved under the Fast Track Approvals Act 2024 and concerns the South Taranaki coast.
3 outlets · Universities fear immigration levy could reduce international student numbers
Universities warn that a proposed law change could impact international student numbers. The government is considering allowing Immigration New Zealand to charge organisations, such as education providers, a levy. Currently, these costs are only charged to visa applicants.
2 outlets · Heavy rain and thunderstorm risks for Waikato and Bay of Plenty
A severe weather system is moving across the upper North Island. Waikato residents face intense, persistent rain, while the Bay of Plenty has heavy rain warnings and a severe thunderstorm watch in place.
2 outlets · Dunedin scientists help develop tool to estimate dementia risk
Scientists from the University of Otago have assisted in creating a tool that uses a single MRI scan to estimate the risk of dementia and other age-related diseases. The tool was tested on 50,000 brain scans and can be used during mid-life before symptoms appear.
3 outlets · Driver dies after hitting power pole in Tokaora
A driver has died at the scene after their vehicle hit a power pole on Livingstone Road in Tokaora late Wednesday night. Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash, and police have launched an investigation into the cause.
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