Author: Press Room
An assault charge has been upgraded to murder following the death of an 84-year-old woman in Auckland’s Papatoetoe earlier this month.Police had been investigating the death of Joan Beale since she was found dead at her home in Ashlynne Ave on August 9 at around 10.30am.A 50-year-old man was initially charged with assault and was due to reappear in the Manukau District Court today.Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward said a murder charge was laid following inquiries.”I acknowledge these events will have upset the local Papatoetoe community, but please be assured that this matter is now in the hands of the…
ADVERTISEMENT Brussels and Washington on Thursday released the long-awaited joint statement sealing the trade deal they struck nearly a month ago, confirming that cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals will face a maximum 15% tariffs to enter the US. The statement, which like the deal struck on 27 July in Scotland between European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, is not legally binding, states that the reduction of tariffs for cars “will apply in tandem with the EU initiating the procedures for tariff reductions vis-à-vis US products”. A customs duty rate of 27.5% currently still applies on…
Nelson Hospital boss Lexie O’Shea has been seconded to a new role at Health New Zealand with a top health leader set to replace her.It follows a series of stories by 1News where nine senior doctors at Nelson Hospital raised concerns about how patient safety was being impacted by low staffing levels, among other issues at the hospital. It also comes after Health New Zealand’s boss for the South Island Martin Keogh stood down last month, choosing to return home to family in Australia. Keogh’s replacement Pete Watson said today in a statement that Lexie O’Shea will be the executive…
A soldier who was convicted of attempted espionage has been sentenced to two years in military detention and dismissed from the army. The soldier handed over sensitive information to a person who he thought was a foreign agent but was really part of an undercover sting. He admitted charges of attempted espionage, dishonestly accessing a computer system and possessing an objectionable publication, at the start of a court martial hearing at Linton Military Camp, near Palmerston North, on Monday. The attempted espionage charge dated to December 2019 when the soldier attempted to hand information to the undercover agent. “This was…
The largest Māori tertiary provider in the country has announced a proposed “organisational redesign” that will cut around 60 roles.The measures were announced today by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in a new strategy, Te Pae Tawhiti 2030, saying it aimed to map out the institution’s future direction to deliver “innovative, values-led education for learners of today” and “generations to come”.”A proposed organisational redesign better aligns our people, structures, and systems with our vision, and responds to the changing needs of our tauira, employers and communities,” the wānanga said in a statement.”Guided by kaupapa Māori values (Te Kaupapa Matua), Te Pae…
A man has been seriously injured after allegedly being shot in Levin — the fourth such incident in the Horowhenua town this week.Emergency services were called to Bartholomew Rd at around 12pm where a person had appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.Police were speaking with people to determine who was involved and what took place. It was the latest in a string of alleged shooting incidents in Levin this week.The first incident involved a man who presented at a healthcare centre with a gunshot wound to his thigh on Monday morning.…
A Russian state-backed messenger application cast as a rival to WhatsApp, which critics say could be used for surveillance purposes, must be pre-installed on all mobile phones and tablets from next month, the Russian government has ordered. The decision to promote the popularity of MAX, the new state-controlled messaging app, comes after Russia restricted some calls on WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, and on Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. The government, which is seeking greater control over the internet space, said in a statement on Thursday that MAX, which will be…
Police have arrested three men and seized nearly 8 kilograms of synthetic cannabis after a series of coordinated search warrants across Christchurch this morning.The operation involved five separate searches and uncovered a firearm, 50 rounds of ammunition, imitation firearms, a “significant” amount of cash, and assets suspected to be linked to criminal activity.Detective Sergeant Brad Grainger said there had been an increase in the manufacture and supply of synthetic cannabis across the district in the last month.”Although this is not a top-of-the-line ‘sexy’ drug, the significant increase in the supply of synthetic cannabis lately has affected retail offending and disorderly…
New Zealand mother Sarah Shaw has spoken to media for the first time since her release, describing her three-week stay in a US detainment centre.Shaw and her six-year-old son Isaac were held at the Dilley, Texas facility for three weeks after a mix-up with her visa at the Canadian border.Speaking to King 5 news in her home state of Washington, still wearing an ankle monitor and facing further court dates, she described living in close quarters with dozens of other detainees, six-year-old Isaac constantly with her.”If I needed to go to the bathroom, Isaac was there, yelling at me outside…
By Felix Walton of RNZ Budget airline Jetstar has apologised to New Zealand customers, as it anticipates a hefty fine after pleading guilty to misleading passengers about their rights. The Commerce Commission took Jetstar to court over charges that it discouraged consumers from seeking compensation they were legally entitled to for delayed or cancelled flights. Representatives from both parties appeared in the Auckland District Court today for sentencing, however Judge Gibson reserved his decision for a later date. The New Zealand watchdog argued that Jetstar’s offending was not just careless but reckless, and continued despite multiple warnings and similar charges…