Author: Press Room
More than 4600 unwanted Christmas presents had been listed for sale on Trade Me by mid-morning on Boxing Day, with the online trading site saying it expects that number to climb. A second-hand Epilady shaver, a ceramic unicorn pen holder and a banana taped to a wall were among those posted early. The sales continue a heart-warming tradition for New Zealanders to hawk off gifts that have missed the mark, with some people (33.4 percent according to Trade Me) intending to donate the proceeds to charity. Trade Me spokesperson Emma Bacon said New Zealanders had a “relaxed” approach to gift-giving,…
A prisoner who escaped custody during a visit to Waikato Hospital on Monday afternoon is still at large.Although police said 48-year-old Damon Anderson was not considered an immediate risk to the public, they still urged people not to approach him, and instead report any sightings by calling 111.Anderson was last seen wearing green shorts and was shirtless.On Monday, Spring Hill general manager Scott Walker said Anderson was handcuffed and wearing a GPS monitor when he escaped.Police could not say what time the GPS tracker went off due to operational reasons.Walker said public safety was the prison’s top priority and any…
One person has been critically injured in a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 35 northwest of Gisborne.Police said the crash between Hicks Bay and Cape Runaway was reported at around 11.15am.”Initial information from the scene indicates one person has critical injuries,” a spokesperson said.The road was closed and would likely remain so for several hours, they added.”Motorists planning to travel between Hicks Bay and Cape Runaway today are advised to delay travel.”
A man reported missing from Ōtorohanga yesterday has been found safe by police this morning.In an updated statement, police thanked the public for their help following an appeal.”Police would like to thank members of the public who contacted us with possible sightings of the man’s car, which helped officers find the man.”Earlier, Waikato police said the man was reported missing by his family.According to police, he left his Ōtorohanga home at around midday on Christmas Day to drive to Huntly, however, he did not arrive in Huntly as expected.
Police are investigating a suspicious blaze that broke out at a Napier home in the early hours of this morning.Emergency services were called to the residential address on Geddis Ave in the suburb of Maraenui at about 1.45am, according to a police spokesperson. Investigators are urging anyone with information about the fire to contact authorities. “A scene guard was put in place overnight and police will be conducting a scene examination at the address today, alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand.”People with information are urged to contact 105, citing file number P061072109.
Blake Lively’s claims that “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni unleashed a smear campaign against her have gained support from a new lawsuit that Baldoni’s former publicist filed against him.The lawsuit was lodged Tuesday (local time) in New York state court in Manhattan by Stephanie Jones, who began representing Baldoni in 2017. It said the actor and his movie production company, Wayfarer, expanded their contract in 2020, agreeing to pay a US$25,000 monthly fee.The lawsuit alleged that Baldoni, 40, and Wayfarer last August, when the film was released, teamed up with publicists to try to “bury” and…
A search is continuing for a man missing in the water near Ōhope after police said he fled from officers last night and swam away.Police responded to a “family harm-related incident” at Ōhope Beach, east of Whakatāne, at around 6pm yesterday.When officers arrived at the scene, a 48-year-old Whakatāne man ran away and jumped into the harbour, Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said.”Officers engaged with him and attempted to get him to come out of the water but he refused, continuing to walk away from them,” she said.”When the man started swimming further away and against…
Hawke’s Bay officials are preparing for possible flooding with heavy rain expected for Boxing Day.MetService forecasters earlier issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for a period from early morning Boxing Day, for Gisborne-Tairāwhiti, and Hawke’s Bay north of Napier.The warnings are in pace from 6am Thursday until 6am Friday in the Gisborne area and 9am Thursday until 1pm Friday in the Hawke’s Bay north region.Up to 130mm of rain is expected to fall, and possibly more in localised areas, and thunderstorms are possible. It said that means there is potential for streams and rivers to rise rapidly, as well as…
Meat exporters say 2024 has been a tough year for the industry — but positive signs are emerging. A joint report from Beef & Lamb and the Meat Industry Association says global markets remain challenging, but there are green shoots which may result in prices firming in 2025. “Recent reductions in interest rates have also provided some relief for farmers,” the Red Meat Report said. It said export prices had been weak, though improvements were expected. “Despite the weaker prices for our sheep meat particularly, caused by China’s economic headwinds and our products experiencing increased competition, we could see prices…
This week’s Good Sorts is a woman from the Southland town of Riverton doing her best to bring her community together this festive season.Five years ago, Tanya Colyer was scrolling through Facebook when she stopped on a photo of fairy doors.Colyer was so taken with them that she ordered her own. She then recruited friends, family, and anyone she could find to pick up a paintbrush. “It’s a huge community project.” The doors were then taken to a hill high above Riverton and laid on a track, turning Moore’s Reserve into a Christmas trail.”Every single door has a story which…