Author: Press Room

A man who allegedly attempted to steal copper piping from a vacant West Auckland property last night has been taken to hospital after receiving an electric shock.Police received a call reporting a man had been injured and was trapped under a house on Meadowcroft Way in Henderson at around 11.20pm.Senior Sergeant Damian Albert said it appeared the man was in the process of stealing copper piping when he was shocked after touching a live wire.”Fire and Emergency NZ has attended and made the scene safe so the male could be rescued and transported to hospital immediately.”Albert said the shock “could…

No photographic evidence that the ousted Syrian president is in Moscow has emerged, despite confirmation from the Kremlin and Iranian officials. ADVERTISEMENTA photo circulating widely on social media claiming to show the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his wife in Moscow was in fact taken in February 2023 in Aleppo, according to Euroverify’s analysis.Russian news agency TASS first reported that al-Assad and his family had arrived in the Russian capital after fleeing Syria on Sunday, citing a Kremlin source. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has since suggested President Putin personally granted al-Assad’s asylum.But a reverse-image search shows that photos claiming…

Sixteen people have been arrested after a convoy of dirt bike riders allegedly drove dangerously across Auckland yesterday.Police said initial reports were made about the bikes at around 2.30pm in Ōtara, and more calls came as the bikes were ridden north into central Auckland, travelling around 70km through parts of the city.Patrols were diverted to monitor the riders, including the Eagle helicopter and numerous ground units, said Counties Manukau District Prevention Manager Inspector Mark Chivers.”It was very clear their behaviour was putting the wider community at risk, with bikes exceeding the speed limit, running red lights and riding dangerously.”The group…

While Western sanctions have successfully disrupted Russia’s ability to trade in gold, the country holds a considerable influence over the production of gold in Central Asia and Africa. ADVERTISEMENTGold has become a significant strategic resource for the Russian government since the invasion of Ukraine. According to the latest RAND Europe research, Russia has been using gold as a means to obtain hard currency, weapons and other goods, especially from countries like China, Turkey and Iran. Between November and December 2023, Russia was the world’s fifth-largest holder of gold reserves, with more than two thousand tonnes. The US took first place with 8,133.5…

A woman has been charged with murder after a boy died in Te Teko, Whakatāne last month.A homicide investigation was launched after police were called to Whakatāne Hospital at 5.30pm on November 15, where an eight-year-old boy died after an alleged assault.Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson said the murder charge comes after a search was carried out in Whakatāne this morning.The 25-year-old woman, who was initially charged with assault, has now been charged with murder, as well as assaulting a child and assault with a weapon.”She has been remanded in custody since her last court appearance on November 20,” Wilson…

A popular Wellington bakery has announced its closure one week after winning a hospitality award, while another has been put into liquidation.Myrtle Bakery on Kent Terrace in Mount Victoria won outstanding bakery at the “unofficial” Welly Hospo Awards, which were hurriedly organised after the Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards were postponed after a challenging year in the industry.Owners Sarah Bullock and Jacob Brown posted news of the closure on social media.”It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the closure of Myrtle Bakery, as our cherished site is no longer available to house us,” they wrote.”The character of the…

Iona Home and Hospital in Oamaru and two caregivers have been found to have acted abusively towards a man in his eighties with dementia while he was attempting to use the toilet.A new report from Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper found a man’s rights under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) were breached.The man had moved into the dementia unit at the home operated by Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) in 2019, as his wife was no longer able to care for him at home.In addition to his progressing dementia, the man had several other medical…

Daniel Craig felt emotionally “exhausted” after shooting each of his James Bond movies.The 56-year-old actor starred in five Bond films between 2006 and 2021, and Craig admits that the money-spinning movies took a physical and emotional toll on him.He told the Sunday Times newspaper: “Early on with Bond I thought I had to do other work, but I didn’t. I was becoming a star, whatever that means, and people wanted me in their films. Incredible.”Most actors are out of work for large chunks so you take your job offers – but they left me empty. Then, bottom line, I got…

Te Pāti Māori’s rise to within one point of ACT in the latest 1News Verian poll – a record result for the minor party – has prompted divided responses from party leaders.The latest poll shows National and Labour steady at 37% and 29% respectively, while Te Pāti Māori has risen three points to 7% – now sitting just one point behind ACT’s steady 8%. The result also puts them ahead of New Zealand First, who are up by 1% to 6%. It would give Te Pāti Māori nine seats in Parliament if repeated at the next election – up from…

Gloriavale has lost its fight to keep banking with the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) after two years of legal disputes.In July 2022, BNZ gave notice of its intention to terminate its banking relationship with various companies and entities associated with the Christian Church Community Trust, also known as the Gloriavale Christian Community.BNZ considered the decision appropriate in light of its internal human rights policy, pointing to the West Coast community’s use of child labour.Gloriavale claimed it had changed and argued it was unfair for BNZ to abandon it.The commune attempted to establish alternative banking arrangements but was unsuccessful. Without…