Gisborne man charged over death threats against former MP
A 19-year-old Gisborne man has been charged following a series of death threats directed at former Green MP Benjamin Doyle via social media in March. Police arrested the man on Wednesday, and he is due to appear in Gisborne District Court on 15 October. Further arrests may occur as investigations continue.
+48 outlets · KiwiRail to sell retired Aratere ferry for recycling in India
KiwiRail has agreed to sell the Interislander ferry Aratere to a buyer who will take the vessel to a specialist recycling shipyard in India. The ferry was retired after 26 years of service to allow for port infrastructure redevelopment in Picton.
+37 outlets · Search continues for missing Tokoroa teacher Jayleb-Che Dean
Police are searching for 36-year-old Tokoroa Intermediate School teacher Jayleb-Che Dean, who has been missing since 30 September. He was last seen south of Rotorua at Waiotapu. Authorities are now asking visitors to the natural pools on Waiotapu Loop Road to contact them with any information.
4 outlets · Police seize over 500kg of cannabis in Auckland raids
More than 500kg of cannabis plants were found during a series of search warrants in West Auckland on Thursday. Police also recovered MDMA, ketamine, and a significant amount of cash. One man has been arrested and charged in connection with the raids.
4 outlets · Man accused of burglary at Winston Peters' home pleads not guilty
A 29-year-old man appeared in Auckland District Court after allegedly smashing a window at Foreign Minister Winston Peters' house during a protest. The man has pleaded not guilty to burglary and elected a jury trial. He is currently prohibited from going within 1km of the minister's home.
+15 outlets · Homemade and 3D-printed firearms seized during Henderson police raid
Police seized a collection of homemade and 3D-printed firearms and ammunition during a search of a Kingsdale Road property in Henderson. The raid, which involved the Armed Offenders Squad, resulted in the arrest of a 20-year-old man. He has been charged with seven counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
4 outlets · Central Auckland fire station closed after asbestos discovery
The Pitt Street fire station in central Auckland was closed on Friday evening after dust samples tested positive for asbestos. Staff and vehicles were prevented from entering the building, and firefighters underwent precautionary decontamination. Fire and Emergency New Zealand is awaiting further urgent test results, which are expected on Monday.
4 outlets · Government explores selling its investment in Chorus telecommunications company
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government is investigating the sale of debt and equity securities held in Chorus. The investment, made during the ultra-fast broadband rollout, could potentially return hundreds of millions of dollars to fund projects such as schools and hospitals.
4 outlets · Te Papa announces two-phase restructure to ensure financial stability
Te Papa Tongarewa is conducting an organisation-wide review to restructure teams and positions. The museum aims to create efficiencies and manage rising costs related to energy, insurance, staffing, and building maintenance. The two-phase process will begin this year, with the first phase focusing on tier two managers.
3 outlets · Two men sentenced for possessing child sexual exploitation material
Two men have been sentenced in the Manukau and Invercargill District Courts following Department of Internal Affairs investigations. Visen Keo received a four-year sentence, while Steven Bruce Cook was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention. The investigations uncovered more than 60,000 images across both offenders.
3 outlets · Person injured during crowd surge at Canterbury University bar
Police were called to The Foundry at the University of Canterbury after a crowd became disorderly while waiting to enter an event. A student reported being pinned against doors during the surge, and one person was reportedly injured during the incident.
3 outlets · Israel ratifies ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas
The Israeli government has ratified a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which aims to suspend hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours. The deal includes the release of all Israeli hostages held by the militant group within 72 hours. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed the development as a first step towards peace.
3 outlets · Military helicopter forced to land after engine fire near Palmerston North
An A109 helicopter crew declared an emergency shortly before 10.30am after signs of an engine fire. The aircraft was forced to land at Ohakea Air Force base, triggering a response from the Air Force and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
4 outlets · Fiji Airways plane undergoes repairs after bird strike near Christchurch
A Fiji Airways flight from Christchurch to Nadi encountered a large flock of birds shortly after takeoff on Thursday. The incident caused a dent in the aircraft's nose and a bloody smear on the engine. After circling Lake Ellesmere to burn fuel, the repaired plane has departed.
3 outlets · Winston Peters' partner injured by glass after window was smashed
Jan Trotman was injured by glass at an Auckland home following an alleged crowbar attack on a window. A 29-year-old man is expected to appear in court today facing a burglary charge related to the incident.
3 outlets · Coroner calls for ban on temporary pools after toddler drowning
A coroner has described the drowning of a 20-month-old toddler in an unfenced temporary pool as a tragedy waiting to happen. The child wandered into a backyard in Napier where the pool was set up. This incident has prompted calls from Water Safety NZ to ban these pools.
3 outlets · Speaker seeks meeting after Te Pāti Māori maiden speech disruption
Speaker Gerry Brownlee is investigating potential contempt of the House following Oriini Kaipara's 23-minute maiden speech. The disruption included ignoring bell chimes and haka performed in the public galleries. Brownlee intends to meet with Te Pāti Māori co-leaders next week to discuss the incident.
2 outlets · Scott Point residents concerned over single-lane roadwork access
Scott Road in Auckland's Scott Point will be reduced to one lane for two months starting Monday. Residents of the suburb fear the stop-and-go system will cause chaos and potentially restrict access for emergency services and schools.
2 outlets · Shrinking job market forces scientists to seek work overseas
A shrinking job market and sector shake-ups are making it difficult for new science graduates to find employment in New Zealand. One biology PhD specialist has been unable to find work locally and is now looking for opportunities offshore.
2 outlets · Descendants sought for two WWI soldiers identified in Belgium
The defence force is searching for the families of Sergeant Thomas Smith and Corporal Thomas Nigel McFarland. The two machine gunners were killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917. Their final resting places have recently been confirmed through research involving volunteer historians and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
2 outlets · Man charged over Father’s Day restaurant robbery in Hamilton
A 41-year-old gang associate has been charged for an armed robbery at Smith & McKenzie Steak House on Father's Day. Police also arrested two women during a search warrant at an Enderley property, where they found drugs, ammunition, and stolen goods.
2 outlets · Green Party loses communications director following chief of staff resignation
Louis Day has resigned from his position as the Green Party's director of communications. This departure follows the recent resignation of chief of staff Eliza Prestidge-Oldfield, who stepped down last month for health and wellbeing reasons.
2 outlets · Select committee recommends amendments to Regulatory Standards Bill
A parliamentary committee has reported back on the Act Party's Regulatory Standards Bill, recommending changes to a compensation clause. The proposed amendments suggest owners would only receive compensation if the state causes severe impairment to their property. Opposition parties have criticised the legislation despite widespread public opposition.
2 outlets · Three New Zealanders return home after being detained in Israel
Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour, and Samuel Leason have arrived in Auckland after being detained and deported by Israeli forces. The three New Zealanders were part of an international flotilla attempting to reach Gaza before being intercepted by the military.
2 outlets · Woman seriously injured after being hit by concrete truck in Whakatāne
A woman was hit by a concrete truck on King Street in central Whakatāne on Friday morning. Emergency services responded to the incident shortly before 9am. The pedestrian was transported to Whakatāne Hospital in serious condition.
2 outlets · Teenager arrested after three-hour search for alleged car thief
Police arrested a 15-year-old in Whangārei after a three-hour search through Northland bushland. The teenager is accused of stealing a vehicle in Dargaville before fleeing from officers on foot.
2 outlets · Person in critical condition after vehicle hits pedestrian in Manukau
A pedestrian is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle on Dawson Road in Clover Park. Police were called to the scene just before 3pm on Friday, resulting in a road closure between Chapel Road and Te Irirangi Drive.
3 outlets · Christchurch youth care facility Te Oranga to reopen next year
The Te Oranga youth care and protection facility in Christchurch will reopen next year. The facility closed in 2021 following the leak of a video showing staff placing a young person in a headlock. Minister for Children Karen Chhour attributed the previous closure to staffing issues and underinvestment.
2 outlets · Two by Twos leader Wayne Dean resigns from New Zealand role
Wayne Dean has stepped down as the leader of the New Zealand branch of the Two by Twos religious group. Citing constant pressure and a difficult year, Dean is leaving the country for an extended break. He has overseen the local branch for the past three years.
2 outlets · Nutritionist overcomes crippling methamphetamine addiction
Lisa Reid, a nutritionist from Gore, has overcome a methamphetamine addiction that began in early 2022. The addiction followed an impulsive decision and resulted in the loss of her life savings. Before the addiction, Reid ran a successful business and was building a house.
2 outlets · Mother apologises after teens allegedly trashed elderly Auckland couple's home
A mother has expressed embarrassment after one of her teenagers allegedly participated in trashing an elderly couple's Auckland home. The retired couple reportedly returned from a trip to find damage, including broken glass and vomit, after a 13-year-old girl allegedly broke in to host a party.
2 outlets · Egg consumption rises as New Zealand celebrates World Egg Day
New Zealanders are eating an average of 229 eggs per year. With approximately 1.6 million commercial hens in the country, some are now producing larger eggs. Meanwhile, Woolworths has announced it will transition to stocking only cage-free eggs by the end of the year.
+15 outlets · Three people injured in six-vehicle crash near Ashburton
Three people are in stable condition at Christchurch Hospital following a six-vehicle nose-to-tail collision on State Highway 1 near Hinds. The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon just before 3.30pm. The police serious crash unit is currently investigating the incident.
2 outlets · Two house fires reported in Northcote, Auckland
Firefighters and police responded to two separate house fires on Onewa Road in Northcote on Friday afternoon. One person was injured during the incidents, which caused the closure of a section of the road and the rerouting of local buses.
2 outlets · Ngātiwai leader challenges government authority over foreshore and seabed law
Ngātiwai rangatira Aperahama Edwards has challenged the government's authority to pass legislation that would tighten rules for Māori seeking customary marine title. Edwards was removed from Parliament's gallery on Thursday after interrupting a debate regarding the proposed changes to the foreshore and seabed laws.
2 outlets · Police appeal for information regarding missing 11-year-old boy in Canada
Authorities in British Columbia are searching for an 11-year-old boy with family in Christchurch. Investigators believe the child may be staying with a caretaker they are currently trying to identify.
2 outlets · Parliamentary vote on TV advertising bill nullified due to low attendance
A vote on a government bill to allow Sunday morning television advertising was nullified on Thursday because insufficient MPs were present in the House. The error occurred during the final debate of the week, leading to calls for the National whip to resign.
2 outlets · Health NZ and Sir John Kirwan launch AI wellbeing chatbot
Health New Zealand and Sir John Kirwan have launched an AI-powered wellbeing guide. The tool provides 24/7 mental health advice and science-backed strategies for users. The launch comes as clinicians discuss the ethics of using artificial intelligence for mental health support.
+15 outlets · Heavy rain causes flooding and slips on West Coast highways
Torrential downpours have resulted in surface flooding and slips on some South Island highways. Slips have been reported at Meybille Bay on State Highway 6 between Punakaiki and Westport. Waka Kotahi has advised motorists to take extra care due to precarious driving conditions.
2 outlets · Man accused of murdering Christchurch woman remains unnamed in court
A 36-year-old man accused of murdering a woman in Parklands, Christchurch, cannot be named while a psychiatric report is reviewed. The man appeared in the High Court on Friday but has not yet entered a plea. The incident occurred on Lamorna Road in July.
+15 outlets · Former undertaker released after successful appeal of prison sentence
Fiona Bakulich, a former Tipene Funerals employee, has been released following an Auckland High Court appeal. A judge ruled her previous sentence was manifestly excessive, replacing it with four months of home detention. This follows six months she had already spent in prison for stealing money from the relatives of deceased persons.
2 outlets · Young man dies from peanut allergy at mental health facility
A post-mortem has confirmed a young man died from anaphylaxis after eating a meal containing trace amounts of peanut. The incident occurred at a mental health respite facility. The man's mother has expressed horror at the death, describing it as a senseless waste of life.
2 outlets · Family appeals for help finding missing woman in Auckland
The sister of Te Anihana Pomana has travelled from Dunedin to Auckland to assist in the search for the 25-year-old. Pomana was last seen leaving the SkyCity Hotel in central Auckland just after 5am on 21 August, leaving her belongings behind.
2 outlets · Strong winds and heavy rain forecast for parts of New Zealand
MetService has issued warnings for heavy rain and strong northwest winds across central and southern New Zealand. Emergency operations centres have been activated in the Grey and Buller districts on the West Coast, while a 42-hour strong wind watch applies to Wellington, Wairarapa, and the Tararua District.
2 outlets · Voter turnout lags in Auckland and Christchurch ahead of election close
With less than two days remaining, voter turnout in Auckland and Christchurch remains behind 2022 levels. In Auckland, only 21.9 per cent of eligible voters had returned their papers as of Thursday. Wellington's turnout is reported to be marginally ahead of its previous local election.
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