Author: Press Room
A lawn in the tiny coastal community of Birdlings Flat in Canterbury has been named the ugliest in the world, beating contenders from Europe, Africa and Australia.Winner Leisa Elliott prefers to call the strip of dying grass in her front yard “blonde” – rather than dry – and refuses to water the grass, come what may.”I mow it, and that’s it,” she said.The plants in her garden receive the same treatment, all in the name of water conservation.”You can either work harder or smarter. I’ve chosen smarter. I just let nature do it, because it knows way better than what…
Police have arrested a man in central Auckland after a woman was indecently assaulted on Monday and two members of the public were punched early this afternoon.Detective Senior Sergeant Kathy Bostock said frontline staff responded to Ponsonby Rd at around 1.30pm.”There had been numerous reports about a man acting disorderly and aggressively towards the public along Ponsonby Road. This man allegedly punched two people at separate points, before being arrested on the same road.”Bostock said the 45-year-old man would also face charges over a “concerning incident” in Herne Bay on Monday.”It will be alleged the man had approached a woman…
Rotorua Girls’ High School student Casey Paul has had a perfect attendance record since her first day of school at age five – even turning down a family trip to Hawaii to stay in class.She is determined to keep her record going in 2025.Paul said she did not know how she had managed to achieve such solid attendance saying “it just happened”.She said in her first year at primary school she discovered there was a ceremony to recognise children’s school attendance that was run by then-mayor Steve Chadwick and she was inspired to get one of the certificates that was…
A bright comet could be visible in the skies over New Zealand in the coming days for the first time in more than 160,000 years.NASA said the brightness of a comet is “notoriously hard” to predict, but Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) could remain bright enough to be seen by the naked eye.On Monday, the comet was at perihelion — the point of its path closest to the Sun — which influenced how bright it appeared.Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki said Atlas C/2024 G3 was known as a “long period” comet.These originated from a region of the outer Solar System called the…
Birdlings Flat residents are seeing the funny side after constantly being called on to rescue vehicles stuck on the beach.Despite warning signs, visitors keep getting stuck on the sprawling pebble beach, leaving locals to play rescue crew.Birdlings Flat resident Jan Daffin told Morning Report visitors were ignoring warning signs and driving new and expensive 4WD vehicles onto the beach.”Previously we had a wee sign that used to say ‘$50 if you go down and get stuck’.”But I think what happens is there’s a wee little strip of shingle and it looks like there is tyre tracks in it, and people…
Police say a man’s body found on Matangi Road, just outside Hamilton on Saturday afternoon, is believed to be that of missing Tauranga man Jarrad Ormsby.A spokesperson said although formal identification was still continuing, police believe the body to be that of the 45-year-old, who was reported missing on 19 December.Ormsby was last seen in Hamilton where he recently lived.Matangi Rd and some surrounding roads near Morrinsville Rd were closed and diversions were in place last Saturday.Police say Ormsby’s death was not considered suspicious and will be referred to the Coroner.rnz.co.nz
A homicide investigation is underway after a man died in Thames Hospital overnight following an incident yesterday afternoon.Police were called to the property on Rolleston Street at around 3.40pm following reports of an “altercation”.On arrival, one person was found with moderate injuries.”The person was transported to hospital where their condition has continued to decline,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said.The man died overnight.Clarke said a homicide investigation had been launched, and police were looking for a person of interest.”Those involved are believed to be known to each other, and police do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the…
One of New Zealand’s most senior police officers is suspended pending the outcome of an investigation, his lawyer confirmed to 1News today.Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was in contention for the top job after Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigned last year, however, that role went to Richard Chambers.On Tuesday, Michael Heron KC, who is acting for McSkimming, gave the following statement on his behalf:”Consistent with normal police practice in this situation, Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was suspended prior to Christmas. He remains on full pay, pending a criminal investigation. When any police officer faces an investigation of this nature,…
The Justice Department can publicly release special counsel Jack Smith’s investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case, a federal judge said today in the latest ruling in a court dispute over the highly anticipated document days before Trump is set to reclaim the White House.But a temporary injunction barring the immediate release of the report remains in effect until tomorrow, and it’s unlikely US District Judge Aileen Cannon’s order will be the last word on the matter. Defence lawyers may seek to challenge it all the way up to the Supreme Court.Cannon, who was nominated to the…
Ecostore will invest around $323,000 in health and safety after an Auckland worker’s sight was permanently damaged by chemicals.The man had been working in a factory in the East Auckland suburb of Pakuranga when he suffered chemical burns to his eyes while making dishwasher powder in March 2023.The injury caused permanent damage, impacting his vision.He was trying to shut off a pressurised hose that had come loose and was spraying hazardous liquid into the air.Ecostore was later charged with one offence of the Health and Safety at Work Act.WorkSafe had found an inadequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly…