Author: Press Room

Te Pati Māori’s candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau, Oriini Kaipara, has offered some backhanded praise to her chief rival, Peeni Henare, as potential prime ministerial material during wide-ranging Q+A interviews about the campaign.The two candidates appeared in separate interviews, broadcast this morning, as voting gets underway in the Māori seat by-election. Henare, an existing Labour Party list MP and the previous holder of the seat before the last election, emphasised his party’s focus on “jobs, health and homes”. Kaipara has repeatedly urged voters to help her gain Te Pati Māori another seat in Parliament, as Henare would still remain a list…

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Three years, eight months and 12 days.That’s how long it has been since Tom Phillips and his three children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember went missing in December 2021.Police released CCTV footage today of two masked individuals, believed to be Phillips and one of his children, allegedly breaking into a Piopio business at around 2am on August 27.The vision, captured in Piopio on August 27, shows Phillips and one of his children, police believe. (Source: Other)Phillips has been on the run for more than three-and-a-half years and there is a warrant for his arrest related to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and…

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By&nbspEuronews Published on 30/08/2025 – 21:45 GMT+2 ADVERTISEMENT Speaking in Estonia in a joint news conference on Saturday with Prime Minister Kristen Michal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that sanctions against Russia should be tightened and Europe needs to bolster its defence spending. “Our aim is that by 2030, we have significantly filled all gaps that we have identified today,” von der Leyen said speaking at the Ämari Air Base, where NATO aircrafts are stationed. “Here we put a strong focus on defence.” “Estonia is making the Eastern flank safer. And Europe, stronger,” von der Leyen added.…

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Multiple licenced gun owners have been arrested after they bought a large number of firearms, suspected to have ended up on the black market. The arrests came amid a police investigation in the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.Police executed raids at five properties across the two regions, which led to three firearms licence holders and one revoked former licence holder being charged with unlawfully possessing firearms. Two had since pleaded guilty to their offences and were awaiting sentencing. One of those arrested was also being investigated after a small cannabis cultivation was seized from his address. A firearms dealer also…

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CCTV footage has been released showing two masked individuals who police believe to be Marokopa father Tom Phillips and one of his children.Police were making inquiries into a report of a break-in at a Piopio business about 2am on Wednesday, August 27.The vision, captured in Piopio on August 27, shows Phillips and one of his children, police believe. (Source: Other)Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said officers were investigating any connection to Phillips, but the store is one he was believed to have targeted, unsuccessfully, in November 2023.In a bid to encourage the community to report sightings, police have released footage…

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Mount Victoria Tunnel in Wellington has reopened after contractors resolved an issue with its fire safety systems.New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the tunnel was closed to traffic in both directions shortly after 7am.Drivers were asked to avoid the area and use an alternative route as traffic delays and congestion were expected. Police and three Fire and Emergency NZ crews also attended the scene. “They have since left the scene as it was deemed to be a false alarm, a FENZ spokesperson said earlier.The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including new footage of possible Marokopa family sighting, a…

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A globetrotting conman who once posed as a paramedic with a fake ambulance and a United Nations official, leaving a trail of unpaid hotel bills and deception spanning multiple countries, has been jailed in Christchurch.The 32-year-old man, known as Joshua Yarwood or Joshua Martyn according to Stuff, was sentenced to one year and three months’ imprisonment when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.Police said they were notified on June 17 that a hotel guest had left without paying for his two-week stay.A staff member at the hotel uncovered further deception when alerting other hotels in the city -…

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Chinese national Tingjun Cao is appealing against his conviction and sentence for murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao, on the grounds of a miscarriage of justice.Cao, 54, was jailed for life for killing Bao after luring her to a Hornby house under the pretence of viewing the property for sale in July 2023.At his High Court sentencing in June, Bao’s family spoke of the unbearable loss of a daughter, wife and mother, describing Cao as a “despicable monster”.The Court of Appeal confirmed Cao filed the appeal on July 11, although a hearing date was yet to be set.According to…

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Dangerous, cracked footpaths in the Auckland beachside community of Titirangi are finally being fixed – to the relief of a resident who has campaigned for the repairs for years.Titirangi resident Zoe Hawkins said she had been trying for years to get Auckland Transport (AT) to deal with footpaths on Wood Bay Rd, Otitori Bay Rd, Tanekaha Rd and Kohu Rd.”The fact that it’s taken 10 years for the action to happen is unfortunate,” Hawkins said.”I hope that their commitment to address this for Waitākere Ranges is something they follow through on.”The footpaths, wooden and concrete, had been deteriorating for years…

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There are “grave concerns” for a woman missing for over a week. Te Anihana Beau Pomana, 25, was last seen leaving SkyCity on August 21 at around 5.06am on August 21, having left all her belongings at the hotel. Pomana checked into the hotel on August 18 and had no known associates in central Auckland. Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend said there were “significant concerns for her wellbeing”.“She may be acting erratically, and it is not known whether she has access to a cell phone.”Te Anihana Beau Pomana was last seen leaving SkyCity in central Auckland. (Source: Supplied)She was described…

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