Author: Press Room

A 31-year-old Whanganui man allegedly choked a police dog until it was unconscious during an incident in central Auckland yesterday.The man faces a raft of charges after the event.Senior Sergeant Dave Plunkett said the man was a disqualified driver who “allegedly fled police, crashed onto railway lines, and strangled a police dog”.”The dangerous 20-minute-long event started at about 12.10am on Sunday, when police signalled for a vehicle to stop in central Auckland,” Plunkett said.”The vehicle fled and was tracked by the Police Eagle helicopter as it drove through Mount Albert and into Avondale, hitting several parked cars on the way.”After…

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Police made “a significantly higher number of arrests than a standard Saturday night” in Hamilton CBD over the weekend.A spokesperson said police are “disappointed with the drunken behaviour and high levels of disorder, which crossed the line in the central Hamilton CBD overnight on Saturday”.Thirty people were arrested after officers witnessed “high levels of intoxication, obstruction and general disorder”, the spokesperson added.”Of these arrests – three people were arrested for assault, 11 for disorderly behaviour, five for obstruction and four had warrants to arrest and were actively being sought by police.”It’s disappointing that five people physically obstructed our staff while…

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Jurors deciding the fate of murder-accused Philip Polkinghorne have resumed their second day of deliberations with questions.This morning, they indicated most on the jury do not think there is enough evidence to support Pauline Hanna committing suicide.But the jury has also said some jurors do not think the Crown has given enough evidence to answer whether Polkinghorne murdered his wife.They asked for clarification from Justice Graham Lang today at the High Court in Auckland.The judge pointed them to the question trail he issued ahead of the jury retiring.”Each of those questions begins with ‘are you sure’,” he said.He told the…

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A New Zealand produce giant is pulling out of Dunedin after deeming its cool storage site in the city non-essential to operations. Turners and Growers (T&G) Global will halt operations at its Fryatt St coolstore at the end of the month. T&G Global head of post-harvest New Zealand Craig Kenny said the lease for the coolstore was due to expire at the end of the year and T&G had decided not to renew it as the facility was “no longer required for our operations”. “We spoke with our team in August about this decision and are supporting them in the…

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A man has been accused of stealing a car from inside the garage of an Auckland property.Police said in a statement that the 32-year-old man went to the address in Papakura’s Grove Rd at about 1.20am today. He then allegedly entered the property, went inside the garage, hopped into the Toyota FunCargo parked inside and used it to ram his way out.”About five minutes later the vehicle returned to the address while the owner was speaking to police on the phone,” Inspector Matt Hoyes said.”The driver has quickly fled and the Police Eagle helicopter was able to gain observations, tracking…

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A bipod manufacturer for the US Navy and a lambswool business with customers in Sweden were among southern exporters celebrated in Invercargill last week. The Export Gala — Southland to the World Gala Dinner handed out awards to a variety of businesses at an event in Invercargill on Friday. A total of 240 export businesses and their supporters were hosted by the Export Southland Trust at the awards, the Southland Business Chamber said in a statement. Backlanz founder and entrepreneur Ethan Todd won the Innovation in Export Award, for the creation of an ultra-lightweight bipod which are assembled in Invercargill…

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Opinion: Should councils be mini democracies or basic service providers, asks Jeffrey McNeill.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent challenge to local government “to rein in the fantasies and to get back to delivering the basics brilliantly” was unsurprising, given his government’s focus on fiscal restraint.It was in keeping with his announcement that councils’ legislative purpose of delivering their communities’ economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing are to be removed from the Local Government Act.Local government responded with the usual indignation and suggested solutions. There were complaints about inadequate funding mechanisms, questions about whether libraries are basic services. The whole spat likely…

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The call comes after Brussels blocked billions in funds to Poland and Hungary due to concerns over judicial reforms and democratic backsliding. ADVERTISEMENTAccess to the EU budget should be tied to countries respecting the rule of law and fundamental rights without exception, ministers from Sweden and Finland have said.The call comes after Brussels blocked billions in funds to Poland and Hungary due to concerns over judicial reforms and democratic backsliding. “All member states must adhere to our common values, notably rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights,” Sweden’s Jessica Rosencrantz and Finland’s Joakim Strand, both ministers for European affairs, wrote…

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MetService is warning more bad weather is on the way for much of the country towards the end of the working week.Before then, another front will move in down south on Tuesday, leading to strong wind warnings and watches being issued for all of the lower South Island and much of the central south.An orange strong wind warning has also been issued for the lower east coast of the North Island extending up to Hastings on Tuesday from 8am to 5pm.”The strongest winds will be felt in Central Hawke’s Bay, the Tararua District, and the Wairarapa, where an Orange Strong…

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This week’s key events presented by Euronews’ senior finance reporter Jack Schickler. Key diary datesTuesday 24 September: Opening of the UN General Assembly in New York, attended by Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, presidents of the European Commission and Council.Wednesday 25 September: Signing of AI Pact, with around 1,000 companies making voluntary commitments as new EU laws to regulate the tech bed in.Thursday 26 September: The EU Court of Justice rules on whether supermarket Aldi Süd breached consumer law when it claimed to offer discounts on common groceries.ADVERTISEMENT  In spotlightHungarian ministers could be put on the spot this week…

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