Author: Press Room

A man has appeared in court today, accused of murdering three people in Rotorua last month.Justin Matthew Jeffries, 52, was charged with the murders of Glendon Brent Currin, 76, Jessie Florence Currin, 78, and Michelle Nicola Schiller, 59.The Currins were assaulted at their Western Heights home on September 23, police said. Both were hospitalised and later died.Also on September 23, Schiller was found dead at her home in Utuhina. Jeffries faces a murder charge for each of the deaths as well as other charges, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, burglary and fraud.”Police are continuing to support…

Ireland’s Emily O’Reilly, who’s been responsible for probing maladministration in EU institutions since 2013, is stepping down. The six candidates hoping to replace her face an uphill struggle for support – and to define what the role is for. ADVERTISEMENTTwo Italians, a Portuguese, an Estonian, a Dutchman and an Austro-German are jostling to be the next European Ombudsman, as Ireland’s Emily O’Reilly prepares to step down.  They’ll face a gruelling process to gain support from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a series of secret ballots set to take place in December. They’ll also have to resolve a longstanding squabble over…

Work on a $115m project to upgrade wasterwater services through the midtown area of central Auckland is to begin shortly. Part of Watercare’s $13.8 billion infrastructure plan for the next 10 years, the wastewater infrastructure upgrade is part of Auckland Council Group’s midtown regeneration programme which is designed to get the area ready for when the City Rail Link opens. The work will be done two stages. The first involves a tunnel boring machine laying a new wastewater pipe underneath Queen Street from a shaft at the corner of Queen Street and Mayoral Drive. A second shaft will be excavated on…

Dublin says a renewed tensions in the Middle East provide legal grounds to re-examine the bill, which has stalled for six years over concerns it breaches EU law. ADVERTISEMENTIrish Taoiseach Simon Harris has said his government will receive “formal advice” next week from attorney general Rossa Fanning that could revive a bill outlawing trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.The Occupied Territories Bill was first tabled in 2018 by senator Frances Black, before the war in Gaza and Lebanon broke out. It aims to make it an offence in Ireland to import, attempt to import or assist…

The jury has watched a police interview with a man accused of the manslaughter of a 21-year-old who innocently drank a beer that contained methamphetamine.Himatjit Kahlon is on trial before a jury in the Auckland High Court.He gave Honey Bear Beers to Aiden Sagala for being a “good worker” at Fonterra — where Kahlon was a team leader and Sagala had been working prior to his death in March 2023.Manslaughter-accused Himatjit Singh Kahlon pleaded not guilty in court today to Aiden Sagala’s March 2023 death. (Source: 1News)Detective Sergeant Matthew Bunce arrested Kahlon on March 28 and interviewed him.In the interview…

Hamilton Airport has accused Regional Development Minister Shane Jones of spreading misinformation that casts the airport in a negative light.The accusation came in a letter sent to the minister by the airport — Jones says the letter misrepresents his comments.But Waikato Regional Airport Ltd (WRAL) said the tone of a letter was entirely appropriate and it extended an invitation for further talks about the airport’s runway extension designation.The letter from WRAL group general manager of airport operations, Ben Langley, was sent to Jones hours after last Friday’s Waikato Regional Summit in which the minister told leaders it would be perilous…

The US president joined Western leaders around the world urging Israel to end the war after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. ADVERTISEMENTWestern leaders, led by US President Joe Biden, have pushed for an end to the conflict after the death of Hamas leader in Gaza and mastermind behind the 7 October attacks, Yahya Sinwar. Hours after Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, Biden and other leaders congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the killing — saying that Sinwar had “blood on his hands”.As he arrived in Germany, Biden said, “Now’s the time to move on…

Retail giant Harvey Norman and a finance group misled customers with an advertising campaign offering interest-free purchases, a court has ruled.The Australian Securities and Investments Commission launched action against the store chain and credit provider Latitude Finance Australia in the Federal Court in 2022.The watchdog claimed the ads “masked” the fact consumers were required to take out a credit card, such as the Latitude GO Mastercard, to purchase goods.On Friday the court found the ads, which promoted “no-deposit” and “interest-free” payment methods between January 2020 and August 2021, painted an incomplete picture for consumers.”Consumers who wished to make such a…

The number of Christchurch Hospital staff that have potentially been exposed to toxic fumes from a construction site has increased to 55.Health union APEX believed an industrial chemical from painting at the nearby hospital tower block was circulated through the air conditioning.Workers in the radiology and ultrasound departments suffered headaches, breathing problems and rashes, and one had to be admitted to intensive care.Pregnant women were among those affected.Health NZ Te Waipounamu deputy chief executive Martin Keogh said the fumes leak was believed to have started earlier this year, and 55 staff had come forward so far.The agency had engaged an…

Drugs, a firearm, cash, motorcycles and vehicles have been seized by police after two properties were raided in Whanganui last night.Police, including the armed offenders squad, carried out the simultaneous raids on the properties in Victoria Ave and Springvale at about 7.30pm.A firearm, 700g of methamphetamine, three motorcycles, two vehicles and more than $30,000 in cash was found and seized. A cannabis growing operation was also uncovered. One person was taken into custody during the raids. Police said another person subsequently presented at Whanganui Police Station in relation to the offending. Both will face drugs and firearms charges and will…