Author: Press Room
Three men have been arrested following an investigation into a Tauranga-based group that was allegedly trying to catch people attempting to contact minors online. The men, one aged 18 and two 19, face several assault charges and charges related to causing harm by posting digital communications.One was arrested in Auckland and is due to appear in the Counties Manukau District Court today. The other two are set to appear in the Tauranga District Court on August 29. “Police continue to investigate the incidents and are working to identify all the people involved.“Further serious charges are possible.”Investigators said they would like…
Michael Madsen’s domestic violence case has been thrown out.The Reservoir Dogs star was taken into custody in Malibu, California on August 17, and arrested on a charge of misdemeanour domestic battery following an incident with his 64-year-old estranged wife DeAnna. The Los Angeles District Attorney has now told TMZ the case has been declined for filing due to insufficient evidence.And the 66-year-old actor was “thrilled” with the news.His spokesperson told the outlet: “We are thrilled that Michael Madsen is able to put this behind him and look forward to our continued collaboration with more great things coming from this veteran…
A road remains closed in Greymouth following a large slip which continues to move and cause issues, Grey District Council says. Earlier this week, wet weather saw an “active” slip block access to more than 50 homes in Arnott Heights. At the time, Mayor Tania Gibson said no homes were at risk and Grey District Council confirmed there were no reports of personal injury as it asked the public to avoid the area. In an update today, Grey District Council said Milton Rd up Arnott Heights remained closed this morning.”The hill is still moving and debris is causing issues, with…
Health New Zealand is asking for voluntary redundancies from admin and advisory staff ahead of yet more looming job cuts at the cash-strapped agency.In an email to staff on Wednesday, that has since been published on Te Whatu Ora’s website, chief executive Margie Apa said to be “sustainable”, the public health system needed to live within its budgets.”That means we need to move towards being a more efficient organisation, focusing our resources on the delivery of frontline healthcare,” Apa said.”It is now clear the initiatives already in place will not, by themselves, resolve the financial issue or ensure we have…
Streams of Oasis songs have soared in the week before their reunion was announced.Liam and Noel Gallagher have confirmed their first UK and Ireland tour in 16 years with the Britpop legends set to perform shows in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin in 2025.Spotify has revealed that in the leadup to the official announcement, there was a huge spike in people listening to the band’s catalogue on the platform.A spokesperson for the streaming service said: “Streams of Oasis increased over 160% globally from 9-11am London time on Monday versus one week prior.”The increase in streams was continuing to grow…
A man died after multiple health professionals failed to ensure he fully understood the serious risks of taking an antibiotic for more than six months.The man, who was a paraplegic, used intermittent self-catheterisation to control his lack of bladder control.He dealt with ongoing urinary tract infections as a result and was prescribed the antibiotic nitrofurantoin by a specialist from a spinal unit at a district health board (now Health NZ Te Whatu Ora) in 2017.The man’s treatment was the subject of a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC), which found several health practitioners failed to ensure he fully…
The multi-billion dollar global rideshare company Uber has lost a landmark appeal against a New Zealand Court, which has ruled that drivers should be treated as employees not contractors.In 2022 the Employment Court made a historic ruling against Uber, when four Uber drivers were granted workplace protection.This gave the drivers employee benefits such as leave entitlements, minimum wage and holiday pay.Uber appealed against the decision in June 2023, but today the court dismissed the appeal, ruling in favour of the drivers.Uber drivers rallying outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington on 19 March 2024. (Source: rnz.co.nz)Nurredin Abdurahman, one of the…
Christopher Luxon is heading to Malaysia and South Korea next week, continuing a busy period of overseas engagements for the Prime Minister. He will fly commercially – as opposed to on a Defence Force 757 – and will be accompanied by a senior business delegation.Luxon made a quick visit to Australia the week before last, and tomorrow is heading to Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Week. Luxon said Malaysia and the Republic of Korea were “strong partners for New Zealand on the world stage” and “crucial” to New Zealand’s prosperity and security. “I look forward to meeting with…
So far the US says Ukraine can only fire its missiles a short distance – and Russia’s missile launchers are too far inside Russia to be targeted. ADVERTISEMENTRussia has launched a barrage of airstrikes against Ukraine for the second night in a row, with the one on Monday being its largest since the beginning of the full-scale war with over 230 missiles and drones.These attacks have renewed Ukrainian calls for its Western allies to lift the restrictions on using long-range weapons to hit targets inside Russia. According to Fabian Rene Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo,…
A series of fast-moving weather systems are expected to bring rain and “blustery” westerlies across much of New Zealand in the last week of winter, MetService says.Meanwhile, the westerlies are expected to bring warmer days to the east of the country.Heavy rain caused havoc in the lower North Island earlier today, including flooding and slips throughout parts of the Wellington region. A rainy weather system continues to drape across the centre of the country, prompting heavy rain watches and warnings. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the rain wasn’t over just yet for sodden parts of Wellington and Kapiti.”Within the period…