Man sentenced to life for Loafers Lodge murders
Esarona David Lologa has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the May 2023 Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington. The 50-year-old was found guilty of five counts of murder and one count of arson. He must serve at least 22 years in prison before being eligible for parole.
+26 outlets · Twelve injured in State Highway 30 crash near Lake Rotoma
A car and a minivan collided on State Highway 30 near Rotorua late Thursday night. Twelve people were taken to various hospitals, with one person reported in critical condition. Emergency services, including two helicopters, responded to the scene.
+15 outlets · Motorcyclist dies following crash near Ōpōtiki
A motorcyclist has died after a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 35 near Ōpōtiki on Friday night. The incident occurred between Te Waiiti Road and Maraenui Pa Road and was reported to police around 8.25pm. Police are currently investigating the accident.
4 outlets · Man charged with murder following Rotorua crash death
A 28-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 37-year-old Nicholas Mitchell. Mitchell died after his vehicle crashed into a tree on Ford Road in Fordlands last Friday. The suspect was due to appear in the Rotorua District Court on Friday morning.
4 outlets · Whitney Hansen appointed as new Black Ferns head coach
New Zealand Rugby has appointed Whitney Hansen as the Black Ferns head coach through to the end of 2027. The daughter of former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen, she succeeds Allan Bunting. Hansen will oversee 11 tests during her first year in the role.
3 outlets · Five arrested after drug raids in Waikato and Coromandel
Police arrested five people following a three-day operation involving search warrants in Matamata, Te Aroha, and Whangamatā. The raids, which included a suspected methamphetamine lab in Paeroa, resulted in the seizure of cannabis, firearms, and methamphetamine. Approximately 16 staff members were involved in the crackdown.
3 outlets · Man tests positive for methamphetamine in first new roadside drug test
A 40-year-old man driving with his young daughter has become the first person to test positive for methamphetamine using New Zealand's new oral fluid screening device. The man was stopped at a Wellington checkpoint on Thursday and subsequently lost his licence for 28 days after refusing a blood test.
3 outlets · Government proposes law change for restaurants to sell takeaway alcohol
The government is proposing an amendment to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act. This change would allow restaurants to apply for an off-licence to sell take-home alcohol, provided they also sell takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages prepared on-site.
3 outlets · Police investigate Hamilton homicide at Lake Cres property
Police are investigating a homicide after a man died and another person was seriously injured at a Lake Cres property on Thursday evening. Officers have cordoned off a home and are examining a toilet block at a local yacht club as part of the investigation.
3 outlets · Six youths arrested after allegedly livestreaming car thefts on TikTok
Police arrested six youths, some as young as 12, in the Manawatū region after they allegedly livestreamed car thefts and a crash on TikTok. Officers used the real-time social media broadcast to track the suspects and vehicles involved.
3 outlets · Five-year crayfish fishing ban announced for Northland's east coast
A ban on commercial and recreational spiny rock lobster fishing will begin on 1 April 2026 along the upper east coast of the North Island. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones stated the measure aims to help stocks recover after numbers became critically low. The closure will last for at least five years, spanning from Pārengarenga Harbour to the Coromandel Peninsula.
3 outlets · Thousands gather at Bondi Beach to honour shooting victims
Thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach to hold a memorial paddle-out and a minute's silence for those killed in a mass shooting. The attack occurred during Hanukkah celebrations on Sunday, leaving 15 people dead and one gunman killed. A New Zealander was among those who helped restrain one of the alleged attackers.
3 outlets · Two men arrested following shooting in Gore
Two men, aged 36 and 54, were arrested in Invercargill following a shooting on Aparima Street in Gore on Wednesday night. Two people were injured in the incident, with one victim remaining in hospital. The men face multiple charges and are expected to appear in the Invercargill District Court on Friday.
3 outlets · Woman arrested after allegedly stealing $13,000 worth of goods
A 22-year-old woman was arrested in Rotorua on Saturday after being found hiding in a wardrobe. Police tracked her via her vehicle following alleged retail thefts across multiple towns. She faces 24 charges related to the suspected theft of more than $13,000 in goods.
3 outlets · Police seek Mitchell Cole following double homicide in Ruatiti
Police are searching for 29-year-old Mitchell Cole after his father, Brendon Cole, and stepmother, Trina Cole, were found dead at a Ruatiti farm. Officers are also appealing for information regarding a quad bike and trailer found at the property as the investigation continues.
2 outlets · Technical issue may have exposed sensitive information in police files
A technical glitch with a police incident management tool may have allowed sensitive information to be visible during disclosure. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner and lawyers have been notified. An investigation is currently underway to determine the extent of the issue.
4 outlets · Castlepoint Hotel bar allowed to sell alcohol again
The Castlepoint Hotel at Whakataki in Wairarapa has been permitted to resume alcohol sales. This reprieve allows the venue to operate while it awaits the outcome of an appeal next year regarding its licence.
3 outlets · Coroner criticises disability service after boy found dead in pond
A coroner has criticised a disability service for failing to address safety concerns raised by a mother. Her five-year-old autistic, non-verbal son, Khyzah DeLaCroix, was found dead in a pond near his Hangaroa home in August last year.
4 outlets · Southland teacher aide's prison sentence for child abuse material quashed
Quade Strange, a 25-year-old teacher aide from Southland, has had his prison sentence overturned. He was previously jailed for nearly two years for possessing exploitative online material and expressing a desire to sexually abuse a child.
2 outlets · Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke preferred to lead Te Pāti Māori in new poll
A Mata-Horizon Research poll suggests many Māori voters would prefer Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke to lead Te Pāti Māori. The survey indicates that nearly half of Māori voters do not trust the current leadership and believe the party is heading in the wrong direction.
3 outlets · Truck driver jailed for fatal Blenheim crash
Robert Wayne Clifford has been sentenced to prison in the Blenheim District Court for causing a crash in June last year. The driver was using his phone when his truck hit a van, killing RSE worker Kaiea Taubakoa and injuring five others.
2 outlets · High Court rules two commissioners were unlawfully appointed
The High Court has ruled that Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith unlawfully appointed Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow and Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby in August 2024. The court found the correct legal test was not applied. Both commissioners will remain in their roles while the minister considers an appeal.
2 outlets · Former travel agent sentenced for defrauding three companies
A 29-year-old woman from Waihi has been sentenced to 13 months' home detention for defrauding employers and acquaintances of more than $62,000. Between June 2022 and August 2023, she used company credit cards for personal flights and directed customer payments into her own bank account.
2 outlets · Auckland man jailed for running illegal immigration scheme
Vincent Ding Peng Hii has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for his role in a fraudulent immigration scheme. The 54-year-old man pleaded guilty to 24 charges of providing false or misleading information to support visa applications for 24 foreign workers.
2 outlets · Ex-cop Jevon McSkimming leaves court through side door to avoid media
Former top police officer Jevon McSkimming was permitted to exit through a side door following his sentencing. This allowed him to avoid journalists who were waiting outside the court to question him regarding objectionable material charges.
3 outlets · Santana Minerals seeks faster decision on Central Otago gold mine application
Australian company Santana Minerals is requesting a 30-working-day timeline for its fast-track application to develop a gold mine near Cromwell. The company is seeking consent for a deposit valued at $4.4 billion, following suggestions from officials that a decision might not arrive until next September.
2 outlets · Dunedin man's sentence reduced after killing mother with dumbbell
Jordan Taylor has had his life sentence reduced on appeal for the murder of his mother, Anita Jane Taylor. The incident occurred during Taylor's 18th birthday celebration in January 2023, when he struck her with a 10kg dumbbell.
2 outlets · Millions expected to fly in New Zealand this summer
Air New Zealand figures indicate that 2.7 million domestic and international travellers will fly this summer. The busiest period for domestic travel includes Friday, 19 December, with up to 32,000 passengers, followed by several days in late December.
3 outlets · Six people rescued after boat capsizes on Lake Dunstan
Coastguard Clyde volunteers rescued six people from the water after a boat capsized near Clyde on Thursday evening. The rescue vessel was launched around 7pm with ambulance personnel on board. None of the individuals in the water were wearing lifejackets at the time of the incident.
2 outlets · Northland businessman granted name suppression for sexual offending charges
A prominent businessman from Northland has been granted name suppression after being charged with rape and other sexual offences. The man is facing two trials involving four different complainants.
2 outlets · NZTA to decide future of Te Huia rail service
The New Zealand Transport Agency will meet in February to discuss a Waikato Regional Council request to extend the Te Huia rail service for another year. The interregional service between Hamilton and Auckland is currently on a five-year trial ending in June 2026.
2 outlets · One person dies after vehicle rolls on rural property near Tīrau
One person has died following a vehicle rollover at a rural property in Piarere, near Tīrau. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 5.15pm on Thursday. Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident and have notified WorkSafe.
2 outlets · Proposed speed limit changes for South Island state highways
Waka Kotahi is proposing speed limit changes for short sections of state highways in Canterbury, the West Coast, and Southland. The proposals follow community safety concerns and may include reductions of up to 20kph. Public consultation on the changes will open next month.
2 outlets · Woman on work visa waits months for ACC decision
Nataly Vitreras, a Chilean national living in New Zealand, has been unable to work for over four months after developing a rare brain blood clot. She is currently waiting for ACC to complete its investigation into her case following a medical emergency in Queenstown.
2 outlets · Selwyn District Council chief executive Sharon Mason resigns
Sharon Mason has announced her resignation as Selwyn District Council chief executive after two years in the role. She will remain in the position until an interim chief executive is appointed to maintain service continuity.
2 outlets · Property prices in New Zealand holiday hotspots have risen significantly
Recent data shows that houses in popular holiday destinations have seen major value increases over the last decade. For example, average asking prices in Hahei Beach have risen from $623,000 in 2015 to over $2 million. However, buyers are being issued a warning regarding these high costs.
4 outlets · Private jet makes emergency landing at Christchurch Airport
A small commercial jet from GCH Aviation made a precautionary return to Christchurch Airport on Friday morning. The aircraft experienced a technical issue shortly after taking off around 9am. Emergency services were on standby while the plane circled the airport before landing.
2 outlets · Tensions rise in Waipori Falls following police drug raids
Police raids on four properties in the South Otago village of Waipori Falls have resulted in cannabis-related charges against a resident. The raids follow months of reported antisocial behaviour and intimidation in the remote community. A 41-year-old accused is due to face three cannabis charges in January 2026.
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