Author: Press Room

After a West Auckland builder was yesterday sentenced to five years in prison for collecting what he thought was a shipment of 200kg of meth, Yvonne Tahana looks at the economics behind drug operations.The value of a large consignment of drugs quickly spirals when you start doing the maths, as Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, head of Police’s National Organised Crime Group, explains.Asked about the 200kg of meth that Joshua Auina-Anae thought he was picking up from a commercial unit in Hobsonville in November 2023, Williams said you’re looking at “about $130,000 a kilo… that’s a wholesale price”.Inside police’s fake meth…

ADVERTISEMENT In 2024, 5.9% of EU citizens aged 16 and older reported feeling discriminated against when looking for housing. This figure, however, rises to 10.1% among people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to the latest Eurostat figures. A similar trend is observed in interactions with public services or administrative offices, where 9.2% of citizens at risk of poverty reported experiencing discrimination, compared to only 4.2% of those not at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Although self-perceived discrimination in public spaces and educational settings was less common overall, it was still more frequently reported among individuals at…

A lack of young Māori voices at one of the world’s biggest conferences on climate change has led to a selection of 10 rangatahi to join Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation heading to the UN Climate Change Conference for the first time.The rangatahi, aged between 18 and 30, will represent iwi from across the motu on behalf of the National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF). They will present and participate in discussions at the global COP30 gathering in Brazil. The group held their first in-person wānanga last week, hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.Kyla Campbell-Kamariera (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Taranaki tūturu) said she…

A 27-year-old Northland woman charged with neglect after allegedly shutting a 2-year-old girl in a suitcase on a bus was denied bail during her second appearance in the North Shore District Court today.The judge referred the woman, whose identity is suppressed, to a mental health unit in custody. She has yet to enter a plea and will reappear in court next week.Judge Anna Fitzgibbon acknowledged two family members in court and said they were facing a difficult time.Throughout the 25-minute bail hearing, the woman stood with her head bowed, facing the wall.The bus stop where the 2-year-old girl was discovered…

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake has jolted the eastern Bay of Plenty this afternoon.Geonet said the quake struck 25km north of Whakatāne at 4.56pm at a depth of 124km.Shaking was reported by more than 600 people within 15 minutes of the tremor and was described as “weak”.It was reportedly felt as far south as Hastings.

A new map shows how Auckland’s train lines will be redrawn when the City Rail Link opens in 2026, but an exact opening date for the project remains elusive.Questions remain about the $5.5 billion project after Auckland Transport (AT) revealed a finalised rapid rail and bus network diagram yesterday, showing how train lines would change with the new 3.5km CRL tunnel and two underground stations.Speaking at a media conference, AT chief executive Dean Kimpton wouldn’t give an opening date more specific than sometime in 2026, but which was a “commitment”.The three new rail lines will carry geographic names and two-letter…

Published on 05/08/2025 – 11:49 GMT+2 •Updated 11:56 ADVERTISEMENT Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been arrested by British police in connection with an assault at London’s St Pancras railway station in late July. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested on Monday evening after he disembarked a plane at Luton Airport. The arrest took place following a notification that Robinson had boarded an incoming flight from Faro in Portugal. In a statement, British Transport Police (BTP) said: “Officers from BTP have tonight (4 August) arrested a 42-year-old man from Bedfordshire in connection to an assault at St Pancras…

A Dunedin mum is hopeful the changes to NCEA will benefit her Year 7 son, but another says she’s a “bit scared”.The Government has pulled the pin on New Zealand’s official secondary school qualification after more than 20 years.The National Certificate of Educational Achievement will be gone by 2030, replaced by a basic literacy and numeracy award at Year 11, and the Certificate of Education and Advanced Certificate of Education at Years 11 and 12.’Achieved’, ‘not achieved’, ‘merit’ and ‘excellence’ will be replaced by marks out of 100 and letter grades A, B, C, D and E.The new certificates would…

Alliance Group is refusing to comment on speculation Irish meat company Dawn Meats is taking a majority stake in the farmer-owned co-operative. Last year, Alliance appointed Craigs Investment Partners to explore external capital-raising options after posting a full-year after-tax loss of $95.8 million for the year ending September 30, which followed a $70.1 million loss the previous year. It is understood shareholders would be given an update on the capital raise this month ahead of a series of roadshow meetings followed by a formal shareholder vote in the next few months. Chairman Mark Wynne reiterated the company would not be…

In recent months, Treasury, Inland Revenue and an organisation representing accountants have suggested New Zealand needs a rethink of its tax settings.Inland Revenue said taxes would have to increase to cope with an ageing population and CPA Australia said a capital gains tax should be considered.But do you know how much the average person in New Zealand pays, and how that compares to other countries?Infometrics calculated the average tax bill of a household with two median income earners, earning $72,900 per person before tax, not including any Working for Families credits.Chief executive Brad Olsen calculated that they would pay $39,800…