Author: Press Room

A friend of Sarah Shaw, a New Zealander detained at the US-Canada border, says they’re expecting to hear today whether her six-year-old son will be released.Shaw and her son Isaac, who live in Washington state, were detained three weeks ago after dropping her other children off in Vancouver to catch a flight.Victoria Besancon said Shaw was “absolutely terrified” when she and her son were bundled into a giant white van with no markings on it at the Canadian border.”I remember her on the phone being absolutely panicked. She originally thought she was being kidnapped, she didn’t even realise she was…

Police are seeking a second person involved in a shooting which took place in Stokes Valley earlier this month.The 40-year-old victim was shot outside his home address in Hanson Grove at 9am on Sunday, August 3.Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said he remained in critical condition at Wellington Hospital’s intensive care unit.”Police believe two men drove to the victim’s address in a purple Toyota Mark X station wagon, registration KMW290.  “On their arrival the male passenger exited the vehicle and, moments later, shot the victim,” Ryan said.”It is also alleged the victim was then driven over by the Toyota vehicle before…

European ride-hailing company Bolt is eyeing up Christchurch and Wellington but only after building its Auckland base. The launch in the country’s largest city has quickly surpassed rider and driver targets. Bolt’s entry into Auckland in mid-June extended the competition beyond marketplace kingpin Uber and India’s DiDi, which moved into the capital city last month. The Estonian-headquartered company repeated its plans to open up in other cities, but would not be moved on when it might expand its app-based service south. Aside from taxis, Uber is the only ride-hailing operator in Christchurch. Bolt New Zealand general manager Adam Muirson said…

A former Cambridge dentist took thousands of dollars in payments for teeth straightening treatment, days before he shut down his former practice from Panama.Dr Vernon Kruger claimed True Alignment Orthodontics was not his practice in November 2023 when it closed unexpectedly, leaving dozens of parents out of pocket after they pre-paid in full for their children’s treatment.Complaints were being investigated by the Dental Council of New Zealand while Kruger, who was not a trained orthodontist, continued to run an orthodontic consulting business in Panama.One Hamilton mum, who with her former husband paid $11,000 upfront for their then 10-year-old son to…

A fire at a former mental health facility on the West Coast is being treated as arson, and police want to speak to a person seen walking across the grounds before the blaze.Emergency services responded to multiple reports of a large fire at the old Hokitika Seaview hospital complex at around 7am on Sunday. There were no reports of any injuries.Police initially treated the fire as suspicious, and now, after a long scene examination, an arson investigation was underway. “The scene examination took the better part of Sunday and half of Monday to complete, involving both fire and police investigators,”…

A picturesque Tauranga waterfront neighbourhood is being ruined by drug use and cars doing burnouts and skids, a resident says.Owners of prime real estate on Harbour Drive in Ōtūmoetai are experiencing the issues daily, said homeowner Matt McHardy.“The primary issue residents have is really focused around safety and serenity of the waterfront.”McHardy said drug use and deals happened in cars parked on the grass verge across from homes.Up to six cars would park up together and pass what he believed were drugs between the vehicles, he said.Some cars would leave, and others would stay and the people inside would use…

House buyers, particularly those using money from KiwiSaver, may be being put at risk by real estate agents altering sale and purchase agreements, the Law Association warns.The association’s property law committee raised a concern with the Real Estate Institute after members noted real estate salespeople were altering agreements to waive buyers’ title requisition rights. These gave buyers time to ensure the title was acceptable, even if an offer was unconditional.Changes were also being made to allow the early release of buyers’ deposits to the vendors.Law Association president Tony Herring said it was not a widespread issue, but had been noted…

Published on 13/08/2025 – 15:00 GMT+2 •Updated 15:11 ADVERTISEMENT The Mediterranean is the sixth largest accumulation zone for marine litter. It holds only 1% of the world’s waters but concentrates 7% of all global microplastics. This is why French scientists from the Exploration Bleue project have come off the coast of Toulon to study the impact of microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.  Their expeditions are led by the NGO Expédition 7ᵉ Continent’s 27-metre sailing vessel.  “The Mediterranean is an enclosed sea with a dense population. All human activity ends up in the sea. We study the chemical pollutants carried…

Several key rural roads across Tasman have had their speed limits dropped.Lowering speed limits around the district has been difficult for Tasman after its regional speed plan was largely invalidated by a Government rule change.However, as of Monday, the Motueka Valley and Moutere highways, as well as Dovedale, Edwards, and Neudorf roads, have fallen from 100km/h to 80.In Richmond, McShane Rd has also lowered to 50km/h from 80, while Lower Queen St immediately northeast of McShane saw sections drop to 50 and 60km/h from 60 and 80km/h.These reductions come after speed limits were reduced and variable limits installed around several…

A Northland woman, charged with neglect after allegedly shutting a 2-year-old girl in a suitcase on a bus, has applied for permanent name suppression.In a hearing in the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Court (CPMIP) today, her fitness to stand trial was also raised. Both issues would be heard in the Auckland District Court at her next appearance on October 1.In the meantime, the 27-year-old would remain in custody — with her identity suppressed — under the care of a prison mental health team. She has yet to enter a plea.At the end of the hearing, a family member stood…