Author: Press Room

A Tauranga hapū is disappointed that public land they wanted to buy for homes has instead been sold to a private developer.The land known as Smiths Farm in Bethlehem was owned by Tauranga City Council and the $34 million sale to Venture Developments was announced on Wednesday.A minimum of 307 homes would be built on the 41ha site with 21 of these affordable housing units.Mana whenua Ngāi Tamarāwaho offered to purchase the land on commercial terms and build an affordable housing development in 2015 when the council decided to sell some of it.In 2015, the council classified the land as…

A man has appeared in court charged with murder after a woman died in a stabbing on a bus in Auckland on Wednesday.The woman who died is listed in court documents but her name has not been released by police.Police have said the two did not know each other.Bail was not sought for 37-year-old Kael Austin Leona, of Onehunga.He was remanded in custody until a High Court hearing in November.In addition to murder, Leona was charged with threatening to kill another woman on the same day.He was accused of impeding that woman’s breathing by blocking her nose and mouth.Leona was…

Strong wind continued to batter the Wellington region overnight, with more flights in and out of the capital cancelled this morning.Nearly 30 flights in and out of Wellington were cancelled as strong winds buffeted the capital yesterday evening. The weather’s effects continued to be felt overnight.A FENZ spokesperson said this morning: “Overnight, we received about half a dozen calls [in Wellington] due to roofs coming loose and building materials flapping around. “However, the calls have started dying down,” the spokesperson added.A Wellington Airport spokesperson said at about 9.05am: “12 flights in and out of Wellington have been cancelled this morning…

Two men face burglary charges after allegedly stealing a “large volume” of jewellery and designer items in Hamilton and Auckland.The men — aged 41 and 37 — are facing 37 charges of burglary “with more charges likely”, police said.”The 37 charges relate to burglaries that have occurred since May this year, however we believe that this offending in the Hamilton and Auckland areas dates back further. “Some of these items have then been on-sold,” Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Foster said.Last Friday, police executed two search warrants at properties in the Rototuna and Huntly areas.”At the first property, a large volume…

Himatjit Kahlon has been found guilty of manslaughter over the death of 21-year-old Aiden Sagala in March 2023.Kahlon, 41, gave Honey Bear beers to Sagala, who he knew through work. Sagala died after innocently drinking from one of the cans on March 2 last year. It contained liquid methamphetamine.Sagala was hospitalised after having the drink – his health deteriorated and he died of multiple organ failure on March 7, with an “off the charts” level of meth in his system.Aiden Sagala. (Source: Supplied)Kahlon had pleaded not guilty to one charge of manslaughter, one charge of possessing meth for supply, and…

A new great walk has been added to New Zealand’s list — for just the second time in 30 years.The Department of Conservation (DOC) has bestowed the honour on Southland’s Hump Ridge track near Tuatapere. The classification brings Aotearoa’s list of Great Walks to 11. The three-day looping track is the first to be run entirely by its community.It’s taken several million dollars, and years of work, to upgrade it to the great walk status. According to DOC, Great Walks are “premier tracks that pass through diverse and spectacular scenery”. The tracks are also well formed and easy to follow.Speaking…

Police have confirmed the identity of a woman whose body was found in a bag in Auckland’s Gulf Harbour seven months ago.She was Shulai Wang, aged 70, of China.She came to New Zealand in August last year from China and had no family here.She had not been reported missing. Police have been investigating the death since her body was found in the water on March 12.A man and woman, both aged 37, have been charged with interfering with human remains.They were arrested while trying to leave the country in early July. Police acting detective inspector Tim Williams said extensive inquiries…

A man found dead in a building in Horowhenua last week can now be named by police. He was Robert Nattie Albert, 56, of Horowhenua.A homicide investigation was launched after Albert was found dead in a building at Muaūpoko Park in Lake Horowhenua on Thursday, October 17, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said.A funeral service for Albert was held on Tuesday at the Ngāti Huia marae.Thompson said police have heard from “a number” of people who were in the Lake Horowhenua area on October 16 and 17.”Footage from the surrounding areas has also been obtained and analysed to identify the…

A Rotorua resident has concerns the district council is “controlling the narrative” on social media rather than listening to public opinion.But the Rotorua Lakes Council says actions such as removing comments or preventing or shutting down comments are taken only when the rules have been breached.Jared Adams spoke to Rotorua Lakes Council at a meeting on Wednesday of his concerns it was restricting public comments on social media.Adams told councillors they had a responsibility to “put the voices of the people and Rotorua community above the preferences of council staff”.The public trusted them to act on their behalf and listen…

A former Auckland funeral director charged with misconduct in respect of human remains at an Auckland cemetery will keep her name secret for now.The woman was flanked by three family members before she made her first appearance in the Auckland District Court today.The undertaker has also been charged with nine counts of obtaining by deception amounting to $15,002.The 48-year-old was arrested on Tuesday following a nearly three-month police investigation into concerns around burials at Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden.Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin on Wednesday called the arrest a significant development in the ongoing investigation.”We cannot rule out further charges and…