Author: Press Room

Police will be back at a house in the Hamilton suburb of Fairfield where neighbours say a child was killed in a New Year’s homicide.Warning: This story includes details about family violence. Helplines are provided at the end of the article.Police said they were called to the property on Douglas Crescent at 2.10am on Wednesday, following a report of an assault. They found one person dead and two seriously injured.A 34-year-old man was found nearby with serious injuries, he was taken to hospital where he remained under police guard.He was expected to face charges.Emergency services were called to a report…

After 11 years in local government — while raising four kids as a single dad and co-parenting two — Gisborne’s deputy mayor will not be seeking re-election in 2025.At the completion of his last term, Josh Wharehinga wants to spend time on his new truck hireage and moving business, supporting his hapū and rekindling the Tairāwhiti boxing scene.“I love my boxing. I have been a judge for many years now and really want to focus on that for 2025 onwards,” he said.”We haven’t had an East Coast Boxing Association tournament for a very long time.”His choice to leave the council…

A Strike player from Auckland has started 2025 well with $800,000 from Strike Four in Wednesday night’s Lotto draw.The winning ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Auckland.Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Saturday night — where the jackpot would be $5 million.Two Lotto players from Auckland and Papamoa Beach will also be happy with their start to the year with $500,000 from Lotto First Division. Those winning tickets were sold at Mirrabooka Superette in Auckland and Fresh Choice Papamoa in Papamoa Beach.The Lotto numbers for draw 2443 were: 8, 16, 17, 21, 23 and…

Jobseekers are competing with hundreds of other applicants in a tight labour market, and recruiters warn it is not going to get any easier to land a role.The labour market is expected to become increasingly challenging in 2025, with the number of people on a jobseeker benefit expected to rise before it falls.In a tight employment market, it was important to stand out from the crowd, Frog Recruitment managing director Shannon Barlow said.”We’re seeing a huge increase in the number of applications per job. If you don’t have the relevant skills for that job it can have a negative effect.…

Poland has taken over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months, following Hungary’s controversial tenure. ADVERTISEMENTUnder the slogan “Security, Europe!”, Poland is taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union, marking the start of a six-month rotation for the second time in Poland’s history. The country in presidency is tasked with guiding the council’s work and representing all member states in negotiations with other EU institutions. The spot rotates among the EU’s 27 member states every six months, with Hungary wrapping up its controversial tenure in December. Marked by the ongoing war…

A 19-year-old was arrested after two people were assaulted and left with “injuries consistent with stab wounds” at a New Year’s Eve party in Whangārei overnight. Police were called to the address on William Jones Drive in Otangarei shortly after 2am.”Two people were located with injuries consistent with stab wounds, and one was transported to hospital in a serious, but not life-threatening condition,” Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said. The other victim was treated by ambulance staff at the address. The alleged offender, a 19-year-old man, had fled the party before police arrived but was arrested earlier this morning “without…

A man has died following a water related incident off the coast of Omaio, Ōpōtiki.Police responded to the coastal township Omaio in the Ōpōtiki District in Bay of Plenty following reports a man was struggling in the water. In a statement, a police spokesperson said the man was retrieved by members of the public and CPR was commenced prior to police arrival.”Emergency services arrived and continued CPR, however efforts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful and he died at the scene,” the spokesperson said. Inquiries were ongoing into the incident and his death would be referred to the Coroner.

One person has died in a two-vehicle crash in Canterbury this morning. Police responded to the scene on Old West Rd, near Pitt Rd around 11am where two people were found in a critical condition.”One person has subsequently died at the scene and one person remains in hospital in a critical condition,” a police spokesperson said. The Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination.The road remained closed.

A police officer killed in central Nelson early on New Year’s Day is being remembered as a “beautiful soul” and an “outstanding police officer”. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers confirmed the death of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming this afternoon following the incident that also saw a colleague critically injured.A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene after being tasered by other officers. Fleming and Adam Ramsay were struck by a vehicle in the Buxton Square carpark around 2.10am. The Police Minister has called the situation “tragic” and the mayor described it as “reckless” and “heart-wrenching”.Chambers said Fleming, 62, and Ramsay had…

A person is in hospital after being assaulted with a weapon while their car was stolen in Auckland’s Ponsonby overnight. The incident occurred after police spotted a stolen vehicle in Ponsonby at around 4am. Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Allan said after following the vehicle briefly, the car took off “at speed” despite not being signalled to stop. “Police did not pursue, and successfully deployed road spikes in the Wynyard Quarter area,” he said. The vehicle came to a stop on State Highway 1, where all four occupants got out. Allan said the offenders then stopped a passing vehicle and assaulted…