Author: Press Room
A Kiwi living in Australia has returned home to serve a home detention sentence for misapplying PAYE funds, resulting in $1.4 million not being paid to tax authorities. Matthew Keith Sanders was sentenced on three representative charges and a single further charge of aiding and abetting four companies in deducting but not passing on PAYE to Inland Revenue over 38 periods. According to IR, Sanders was the “controlling mind” for four Auckland companies involved in fire sprinkler installation and maintenance, a building consultancy service, a general engineering company, and an investment company. All companies were required to account for deductions…
A man was arrested in Auckland earlier this week after officers found a van full of stolen goods – before the robbed business even realised it had been hit. Just after midnight on Tuesday, police were alerted to a Toyota Hiace travelling on Roscommon Rd in Manurewa with licence plates stolen from a Ford Transit. Inspector Warrick Adkin said the Eagle helicopter was called, and the vehicle was found on Wordsworth Rd 15 minutes later.The vehicle stopped with “no issues”, and a search revealed a “large amount of equipment” inside. “Staff suspected the items may have been stolen, so they…
An on-demand public transport service in Hastings is to end after failing to hit targets.Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is scrapping its MyWay trial from January, after initially considering expanding it to Napier.Figures show the underperforming MyWay – which has had success in other pockets of New Zealand such as Timaru – was costing the council 159% extra to operate than if it had kept its original bus routes.The MyWay trial was launched with three vans in Hastings in 2022, which replaced three existing bus routes.Customers could book a ride through a free app or by calling the council and paying…
The Ministry for Primary Industries is investigating a Taranaki pig farm after footage was released of dead piglets piled in a bin and a sow with a large sore in a farrowing crate. The Ministry’s regional animal welfare manager, Gray Harrison, told 1News inspectors were carrying out follow-up visits to the farm after finding “minor animal welfare issues” during an initial visit. The ministry refused to disclose what the animal welfare issues were, saying the “matter is subject to an ongoing investigation”. The animal rights organisation SAFE laid the complaint after receiving the footage from activists belonging to Grassroots Campaigns…
Former Cabinet minister Michael Wood has announced his bid to return to politics.Wood will be throwing his hat into the ring under the Labour Party for the Mt Roskill seat in Auckland at the next election. The former minister’s political career came to an end in 2023 amid his failure to divest shares in Auckland Airport. It was later revealed in the House that the former Transport Minister had been reminded 12 times by the Cabinet Office about selling the shares. After resigning from the transport portfolio, Wood was mired in further controversy following the discovery of additional shares in…
A former senior leader at police has quit his role at the Civil Aviation Authority following the police watchdog’s scathing report into how police handled allegations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.RNZ earlier revealed the identities of some of the senior leaders referred to in the IPCA’s 135-page report.Among them is Chris de Wattignar, referred to in the IPCA’s report as Deputy Commissioner PLC, who is now the Upper North head of aviation security at the Civil Aviation Authority.After the report was released, he went on leave.On Friday, a spokesperson told RNZ de Wattignar “has decided that…
The chairperson of Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi says he is “extremely disheartened” by Te Pāti Māori declining an invitation to meet with Te Tai Tokerau voters.Rūnanga chair Mane Tahere had invited the national executive of Te Pāti Māori to attend a face-to-face hui at Kohewhata Marae in Kaikohe this Sunday to discuss the expulsion of Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and what the strategy for the electorate would be heading into next year’s general election.Te Pāti Māori declined Tahere’s invitation, saying in a letter they had been advised by “multiple rangatira of Te Tai Tokerau” not to attend…
Flipping burgers, stacking shelves and folding clothes, the work that students used to dread is now becoming a pipe dream for many.Students are applying for record numbers of jobs, but there just is not enough work to go around.With student allowance and loan payments wrapping up for the year, some are unsure how they will survive over the next few months while others are being forced to move home or even drop out of university to stay afloat.As the final week of exams wrapped up at the University of Auckland, a fun-filled summer break was not forefront of mind for…
Alliance Group — which is selling a 65% stake to Irish company Dawn Meats Group — has announced a $93 million turnaround in underlying company profitability. Alliance recorded a net profit before tax of $24.6m on revenue of $2.1 billion for the year ending September 30, compared with a net loss of $120.8m on revenue of $1.8b the previous year. In a statement, chairman Mark Wynne said the result represented a “major milestone” in the company’s reset as it looked forward to its joint venture partnership with Dawn Meats. “After two very challenging seasons, it’s pleasing to return to profit.…
A dangerous prisoner has been on the run from Auckland’s Mt Eden Prison for a week after being bailed on compassionate grounds, police say.An arrest warrant has been issued for Dean Shedden for alleged breach of bail conditions and not returning to custody.The 56-year-old remand prisoner had been granted bail on compassionate grounds by a court, police said.Shedden was due to return to custody at Mt Eden Corrections Facility by 5pm on Friday, November 14 “in accordance with those bail conditions”, police said.”Police have been making enquiries at known addresses through the week to locate Shedden.”He remains outstanding and we…