Author: Press Room

Former eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne denies killing his wife, Pauline Hanna, in April 2021Polkinghorne earlier pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and a pipeThe Crown argues a combination of financial problems, infidelity, and meth use led Polkinghorne to murdering his wife and staging her death as a suicideThe defence argues Hanna killed herself after struggling with depression for many years.Google searches and documents found on a computer owned by Pauline Hanna, who was allegedly murdered by her husband, are being discussed in the High Court in Auckland.Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne is on trial for the 2021 murder of Hanna,…

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Before he died this week, French film icon Alain Delon once suggested he wanted his beloved sheepdog Loubo buried with him. To the relief of animal lovers around France, Loubo will be allowed to survive.Delon, an internationally acclaimed and prolific actor and producer, died Sunday, aged 88, and will be buried on Saturday at his family home in Douchy, south of Paris.He was quoted in a 2018 interview with Paris Match as saying he wanted Loubo, a Belgian Malinois he adopted in 2014, buried with him. “I’ve had 50 dogs in my life, but I have a particular relationship with…

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A 48-year-old man has been arrested as police continue a homicide investigation following a house fire in Whangārei earlier this year. Emergency services were called to the Tikipunga property on April 29 at 3am. Hoani Reuben, also known as John, was the sole occupant of the Thomas St home and died in the fire. This afternoon, police said it had arrested a 48-year-old man and charged him with arson. He was remanded in custody and will reappear in the Whangārei District Court on September 16. “Enquiries will continue into the homicide, and further charges cannot be ruled out,” Detective Senior…

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A key route between the West Coast and Canterbury will remain closed until at least Saturday midday due to rockfall.State Highway 73 was closed early on Friday morning when heavy rain brought down more rocks and debris onto the road at the western side of the Rock Shelter, near the Otira Viaduct.NZ Transport Agency West Coast maintenance contract manager Moira Whinham said the rockfall started on Tuesday and prompted a short closure, but it restarted on Friday due to heavy rain.”Our first concern is the safety of our teams and road users and until conditions stabilise enough to allow safe…

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Two teenage girls were attacked and robbed on a bus in the Auckland suburb of St Heliers last week.The girls boarded the bus on West Tamaki Rd near the intersection with St Heliers Bay Rd at around 1pm on August 17.Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill said a group of young males and females made demands for property from the two victims.”Both victims were assaulted, one of which sustained bruising to her face.”Darvill said police located and spoke to a group of young people following the “aggravated robbery”.He added that police were following “positive lines of inquiry”.Tāmaki MP Brooke van…

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Justin Bieber, who rose to international stardom in 2010 with his hit Baby, has welcomed one of his own with his wife, Hailey Bieber.The singer, 30, posted a photo of a baby’s foot today on Instagram, revealing the child’s name as Jack Blues Bieber. The model, 27, reshared the post on Instagram Stories. It’s not clear when the baby was born; a representative for Hailey Bieber told The Associated Press on Friday night that no further details were available.The couple announced they were expecting a baby in May via Instagram posts on their respective pages from an intimate vow renewal…

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A pedestrian has been seriously injured after a crash involving a vehicle in West Auckland this afternoon.Police said the incident on Royal View Rd in Te Atatū South was reported at around 12.40pm on Friday.”Police are speaking with the driver of the vehicle,” a spokesperson said.The serious crash unit were examining the scene and a wider investigation is underway into what occurred, they added.St John confirmed that it attended the incident with one ambulance at 12.37pm.

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Three people are due to appear in court in connection with the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall — one of the country’s worst miscarriages of justice.Hall was wrongfully imprisoned for 19 years for the murder of Arthur Easton in 1985. Last year he received $4.9 million in compensation after a retired High Court judge found him innocent on the balance of probabilities.Assistant Commissioner of Investigations Paul Basham told 1News that police have issued court summons today for two former police staff and a Crown lawyer involved in the case.”This follows a thorough, methodical investigation led by a Detective Superintendent, and…

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A potential risk of listeria contamination has led to a recall of some Delmaine antipasto products.New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) said it was supporting the company in the recall of the products, which are sold at supermarkets and retail stores around New Zealand.”The concern with these products is that they may contain Listeria, which can cause serious illness in pregnant people and their unborn babies, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems,” NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said.”These products should not be eaten. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund or, if that’s…

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Of the nearly $5 million price tag to keep a Masterton rail crossing open, a “very large portion of the costs” is temporary traffic management, KiwiRail says.The rail organisation released its latest cost estimates this week, shocking the district council which will need to foot the bill or throw the towel in.KiwiRail originally wanted to close the crossing which would have turned Judds Rd into a dead end where it meets Ngaumutawa Rd.The busy intersection is used by trucks and cars alike and keeping it open has an economic benefit of $2m each year.Deputy Mayor Bex Johnson said the council…

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