Author: Press Room
The body of a person has been recovered from the sea near Raglan after police say they reportedly fell into the water near Te Akau Split Rock.Officers were alerted to the incident at about 10.40am yesterday.”A rescue helicopter located the person about 11.30am, but sadly they were deceased,” a police spokesperson said.”The body has been recovered and inquiries are ongoing,”
Te Pāti Māori’s Oriini Kaipara will become the next MP for Tāmaki Makaurau after handily winning yesterday’s by-election against Labour’s Peeni Henare. The Electoral Commission confirmed that 9377 ordinary votes were counted on election night, according to a preliminary count. There are still an estimated 2621 special votes to be counted, expected to account for around 21.8% of total votes. Early results from the by-election had former broadcaster Kaipara in a commanding lead.Te Pāti Māori’s candidate held 64% of the vote with around a 2900 vote lead over her Labour rival, who is already a party list MP in Parliament.…
Former National Party MP Harete Hipango has joined New Zealand First.Hipango was MP for Whanganui from 2017 to 2020, and returned to Parliament on the list in May 2021 after the resignation of Nick Smith.She put her name forward to contest the Te Tai Hauāuru seat in the 2023 election – the first National MP to contest a Māori seat since the 2002 election – but was unsuccessful, coming third behind Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Labour’s Adrian Rurawhe.Hipango told RNZ whether she was considered for a role will be a matter for the New Zealand First leadership to…
The family of a missing woman last seen more than two weeks ago in Auckland’s CBD have released a new photo with a fresh appeal for information. Te Anihana Beau Pomana, 25, was last seen leaving Sky City Hotel at 5.06am on August 21, having left all her belongings behind. Pomana checked into the hotel on August 18 and was last seen heading out onto Victoria St West. She was described as having a thin build, around 1.54m tall, with curly black hair and tattoos.On August 29, police released CCTV footage of the woman leaving the hotel and said there…
As Central Hawke’s Bay District Council heads into the 2025 local body election, the shadow of a long-mooted dam follows it.The controversial Ruataniwha Dam was first proposed around 13 years ago.Now two of the main agitators for and against the original proposal are making a bid to return to council – one to help get a dam across the line and the other to prevent it.Former Central Hawke’s Bay mayor and dam advocate Tim Gilbertson said the dam is one of the main reasons he wants a seat back at the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council table.While former Hawke’s Bay…
More than 1600 alcohol sellers – including bottle stores, pubs, restaurants and supermarkets – haven’t been counted in national figures, a health advocacy group warns.Public Health Communication Centre fears the inaccurate reporting of suppliers impacts the country’s response to alcohol harm.New information released by the centre has found national data is 13% short on the actual number of on-licences that exist, which includes restaurants, bars and pubs.It is also 15% short on off-licences, which includes bottle stores and supermarkets.Alcohol Healthwatch senior health promotion advisor Sarah Sneyd said it was important to get the data right considering alcohol harm was estimated…
A Southland town icon which underwent major refurbishment requires further repairs for small cracks and peeling, just one year on.The giant pāua shell at Riverton/Aparima has been a feature of the town since its creation by Fiordland Souvenirs in the 1990s, but now faces an unexpected $15,000 bill.In 2024, the shell was moved to Kohikohi Park following purchase by the Ōraka Aparima Community Board which oversaw major repairs.The change did not bode well, with a recent report saying water found its way behind the paint layers to create bubbles and peeling.It was believed the problem likely arose due to “micro…
Kitchen and furniture retailers Smiths City and Kitchen Things are to open for a “significant” liquidation sale, liquidators say.On August 20, Kitchen Things went into receivership amid mounting losses. Earlier this week, furniture and home appliance retailer Smiths City also went into voluntary administration. Eight of the nine Smiths City stores across the country will be opening for a liquidation sale, as administrators called for “urgent” expressions of interest for potential buyers of the business.Liquidators from BDO New Zealand announced liquidation sales for Smiths City began today in Auckland and Christchurch.Tomorrow, a further five stores will open from 9am in…
A police car and two other vehicles were struck when a vehicle was being driven in a “dangerous manner” through Auckland this morning.Police received a report of a family harm-related matter at an address on Woodward Ave in Māngere Bridge at around 10.50am.Inspector Kelly Joyce said police were advised both parties were inside a vehicle.”On arrival, a police patrol vehicle has been struck by the offending vehicle when it fled the address at speed.”Police initiated a short pursuit until the police air support unit was overhead and able to observe, she said.”The vehicle has been driven in a dangerous manner…
Construction on a $300 million wood pellet plant in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is expected to start next month, with hopes it could cut the use of coal in New Zealand.Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui says Foresta’s proposed wood pellet plant in the Putauaki Trust Industrial Zone will couple economic growth with environmental stewardship – kaitiaki taiao.Once built, the plant will convert radiata pine into torrefied wood pellets that can be used as an environmentally-friendly substitute for coal.While not quite ready to turn the soil on the plant, Australian company Foresta’s directors and senior management were in Kawerau to give…