/news/rss ob体育接口 Get the latest news from Newstalk ob体育接口. From breaking news to the debate and opinion, we bring NZ the news from around the world as it happens.   Thu, 01 May 2025 00:05:22 Z en /news/national/weather-selwyn-homes-under-threat-from-rising-water-levels-mayor-sam-broughton-300km-away/ /news/national/weather-selwyn-homes-under-threat-from-rising-water-levels-mayor-sam-broughton-300km-away/ Residents of Doyleston are battling to keep floodwaters from their homes as rain continues in Canterbury.  Nick Reid’s property is under immediate threat, using seed bags to deflect water.  Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton was in Wellington when a state of emergency was declared.  Residents of the small town of Doyleston are fighting to keep flood waters from their front door as the rain continues to fall in Canterbury.  Nick Reid’s property is under immediate threat.  “The water’s coming in from the drain that’s flowing in through our gate, and it’s nearly in the house, so I’ve gone and got seed bags,” says Reid.  His home is one of several in Doyleston, northeast of Leeston and near Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere, which are battling to prevent the rising floodwaters from entering.  Pitching in, neighbours checking in on each other and helping to keep the floodwaters out. Photo / George Heard  For some, it’s too late.  “The neighbours behind us, the water’s already in their house,” says Reid.  He says he’s aware there could be worse to come.  “Now that I’ve put seed bags here from work to try and deflect it – it’s starting to work, but there’s still a lot more water to come from up the road,” says Reid.  Residents of the Canterbury town of Doyleston are sandbagging their homes as the rain continues to fall. Photo / George Heard  Reid admits he’s worried about how bad it could still get for an area that is notorious for flooding, but could be seeing new levels of damage.  “I’ve been out here all my life, and I’ve never seen it this bad.”  Meanwhile, it’s understood Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton was in Wellington when a state of emergency was declared in the district early today.  House flooded on SH75 in Canterbury. Photo / George Heard  Broughton, who also heads Local Government New Zealand, is now unable to fly back to Christchurch.  He took to social media this morning to declare the state of emergency.  “Part of the issue is Selwyn Huts and the need for self-evacuation in that area. There’s an expectation that that community will be cut off and the river may breach,” said Broughton in a video on the Selwyn District Facebook page.  Several Selwyn schools have closed for the day, including Ellesmere College, Lincoln High School and Darfield High School.  Wed, 30 Apr 2025 23:36:48 Z /news/national/worksafe-issues-maintenance-warning-for-quad-bikes-after-man-killed/ /news/national/worksafe-issues-maintenance-warning-for-quad-bikes-after-man-killed/ WorkSafe has released an image of a quad bike on which a man was killed and has issued a warning about the maintenance of such bikes.  Ethen Payne, 31, a Tararua farmhand, was killed on the bike, which rolled over at low speed.  Yesterday, farm manager and bike owner, Dane Hemphill, was sentenced for health and safety failures discovered by a WorkSafe investigation.  That could have been avoided if the farm manager had kept the bike in good working order, WorkSafe said.  Worn brakes, uneven tyre pressure, and poor suspension were among the defects found on the bike that flipped at low speed and killed Payne at an Eketāhuna dairy farm in November 2022.  The bike was bought second-hand and had no crush protection device installed.  A victim impact statement read in court said Payne’s mother has since died of a broken heart.  Nigel Formosa, WorkSafe’s central regional manager, said such a tragedy “should be the lightning rod the agriculture sector needs to up its game on quad bike safety”.  Hemphill was sentenced at the Wellington District Court where reparations of $75,000 were ordered to be paid to the victim’s family.  Uneven tyre pressure on the quad bike Ethen Payne was killed on. Photo / WorkSafe  The maximum penalty in such cases is $300,000, a WorkSafe statement issued today said.  “First and foremost, WorkSafe strongly recommends installing a crush protection device on the back of a quad bike,” Formosa said.  Pre-start checks are important, primarily to check tyre pressure and brake function before setting off.  Regular servicing according to the manufacturer’s recommendation is also a must.  This may include oil changes and filter replacements. A checklist can be handy to document the frequency of servicing, what was looked at, and any fixes undertaken.  The agricultural sector was New Zealand’s deadliest industry last year.  Fourteen workers were killed.  Vehicles were the leading cause of death and injury on New Zealand farms, which is why WorkSafe’s new strategy targets about a quarter of our future inspectorate activity towards agriculture, Formosa said.  Businesses must manage their risks, and WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe. When they do not, we will take action.  Around 80,000 quad bikes are used on farms in this country.  WorkSafe says they might not look it, but quad bikes are powerful and complex pieces of machinery. The rider needs to shift and use their body weight to control the bike. This is called ‘active riding’.  “Quad bike riding skills need to be learned through riding experience and training. Riders who are unfamiliar with the particular quad bike or farm terrain, and/or unskilled in the proper active riding techniques, are at increased risk of injury.  “The most common types of accident involve people falling off quads, rolling them, or hitting objects.”  WorkSafe guidelines tell of accepted good practice, the law, and health and safety requirements.  The factsheet gives guidance on picking the right vehicle for the job and a bike pre-operation checklist.  Wed, 30 Apr 2025 22:19:35 Z /news/national/tenant-of-4m-ponsonby-state-house-suggests-sale-amid-k%C4%81inga-ora-review/ /news/national/tenant-of-4m-ponsonby-state-house-suggests-sale-amid-k%C4%81inga-ora-review/ Anita Jones, living in a $3.9 million Kāinga Ora house in Ponsonby, suggests it be sold.  Kāinga Ora plans to sell 900 homes nationally, reinvesting proceeds into new, fit-for-purpose homes.  Corelogic’s Nick Goodall says valuable properties could be redeveloped to house more people.  The woman living in the country’s most valuable state house says it should be sold, as Kāinga Ora plans to put hundreds of homes on the market.  The state house is on a leafy street in Auckland‘s inner city suburb of Ponsonby and is worth close to $4 million.  Shortly after Anita Jones moved into the four-bedroom state house in 2016, she learned Lorde had bought the house next door – the pop star sold the luxury villa for $4.3m last year.  Jones said the neighbourhood has been a good place to bring up her four children, two of whom have since left home.  “I feel privileged being in it. It’s very peaceful, I can say that, there’s no drama. It’s pretty safe I can say, really safe around here.”  Data from Corelogic shows the villa is the most valuable single dwelling in Kāinga Ora’s portfolio – at $3.9m.  “It’s actually quite a big property, well I reckon it is and I’m actually looking at transfering so they can have the house for a bigger family because it’s only the three of us and it’s quite big for us,” Jones said.  “My thoughts would be I reckon they should sell it.”  Building projects that would create more than 1000 state homes are on hold while Kāinga Ora reviews its portfolio, with decisions expected from July.  It also intends to sell about 900 homes nationally over the next 12-18 months – currently 49 state homes are on the market of which 32 are in Auckland.  A nearby neighbour of the most valuable state house, who wished to remain anonymous, said it does not make financial sense for the state agency to keep the Ponsonby house.  “I think it probably should be sold because it’s worth three or four million so you could probably build a lot more for that.”  Kāinga Ora said it does not have plans to develop any of its five most valuable houses, and they are not for sale.  All are in Auckland and each are worth more than $3.5m, according to CoreLogic.  Five most valuable state homes in New Zealand (supplied by Corelogic)  Ponsonby CV $3,900,000 - 619m2  Henderson CV $3,770,000 - 4626m2  Westmere CV $3,700,000 - 620m2  Westmere CV $3,650,000 - 612m2  Hillcrest CV $3,525,000 - 2904m2  CoreLogic head of research Nick Goodall said the properties’ values were tied up in large plots of land.  “It shows that you could probably build multiple units on that block of land to get better use and more people living in that area which would be well in demand from people wanting to live there to be closer to town.”  Goodall believed Kāinga Ora should be considering the future of all five of its most valuable properties.  “There’s probably lots of potential development all across Auckland. You would expect that these would be ones that would be on the list to look at.”  Kāinga Ora general manager for strategy, finance and policy Gareth Stiven said the planned sale of 900 state homes represented about 1% of its current portfolio.  “These homes will be in regions across the country. Decisions to sell specific sites will be ongoing, and at any one time there will be properties at various stages of the process.”  The country's most valuable state house is in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby and is worth almost $4m. Photo / NZ  He said tenants would be offered another Kāinga Ora home, suited to their needs.   “Money from the sale of existing Kāinga Ora properties will be reinvested into our housing portfolio, so we can deliver new, fit-for-purpose homes that are the right size and in the right location.”   Stiven said in the next financial year, the agency estimates $400-$500m from house sales w... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:50:08 Z /news/sport/netball-nzme-announces-exclusive-partnership-with-netball-new-zealand/ /news/sport/netball-nzme-announces-exclusive-partnership-with-netball-new-zealand/ New Zealand Media and Entertainment (ob体育接口) is proud to announce an exclusive multi-year media partnership with Netball New Zealand including the Silver Ferns, ANZ Premiership competition and all six ANZ Premiership teams.  The comprehensive partnership spans ob体育接口’s multi-channel media portfolio across its audio, print, digital and OneRoof real estate platforms, creating unprecedented exposure for netball across New Zealand.  The partnership will be led by The Hits radio network, creating significant opportunities to engage with their target audience while supporting local netball communities. The Hits hosts will feature prominently on game days, bringing fans closer to the action both on and off the court.  Emily Travers, ob体育接口 head of commercial sport, partnerships and events, said the partnership represents a perfect alignment between ob体育接口’s audience growth strategy and its commitment to supporting New Zealand’s sporting community.  “Netball has such a strong presence in communities throughout the country, and we’re excited to help amplify the sport’s visibility while creating engaging content for our audiences across all our platforms.  “This new partnership also creates valuable opportunities for our advertising clients, allowing them to leverage netball-related content and audiences across ob体育接口’s extensive media network,” she says.  Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie says: “Partnering with ob体育接口 gives us unprecedented reach across multiple media channels to share the stories of our athletes, teams and competitions.  “This collaboration will help us achieve our objectives of growing the netball community while bringing fans closer to the sport they love.  “With more than 145,000 registered netball players in New Zealand and its position as the highest participation sport in secondary schools, netball continues to be a cornerstone of the country’s sporting landscape. The sport is also seeing increasing participation from men, reflecting its evolving appeal across diverse demographics.”  Complementing this partnership, ob体育接口 and the Newstalk ob体育接口 podcast network has also launched a weekly netball podcast called Inside Netball, featuring former Silver Ferns Adine Wilson and Anna Stanley, alongside renowned netball commentator and Newstalk ob体育接口 journalist Jenny Woods. A new edition of the podcast is available every Thursday on iHeartRadio.  Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:25:11 Z /news/national/christchurch-rapist-released-on-parole-without-undertaking-any-sex-offender-treatment/ /news/national/christchurch-rapist-released-on-parole-without-undertaking-any-sex-offender-treatment/ Warning: This story details sexual assault.  Matthew Elliot, convicted of raping a teenager, was released on parole without undergoing sex offender treatment.  The survivor is furious, fearing he poses a risk as he denies wrongdoing and hasn’t been rehabilitated.  The Parole Board deemed Elliot a low risk, citing his exemplary behaviour in prison and community support.  A Christchurch man jailed for the “brutal” rape of a vulnerable teenage girl has been released on parole, still denying any wrongdoing, and without undertaking any specific sex offender treatment.  The survivor of the assault is furious and is concerned that others may be harmed because the offender “has not addressed” his offending.  In October 2023, Matthew Elliot, then 37, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for raping the best friend of one of his siblings.  Matthew Elliot was convicted of raping a teenage girl when he was 18. Photo / George Heard  The court heard that in 2005, Elliot plied the young woman with alcohol before trapping her in a bedroom, pinning her down and assaulting her while she continuously screamed, told him “no” and tried to fight him off.  Elliot denied a charge of rape but was found guilty by a jury.  At sentencing, Judge Mark Callaghan said during a phone call before trial Elliot apologised “a number of times” for the rape.  However, his defence in court was that it “never happened”.  Elliot admitted kissing the teen but denied any further assault and proffered his apology was for “the kissing aspect and supplying wine”.  “That explanation was rejected by the jury,” said Judge Callaghan.  He described the rape as “brutal” and “forceful” and said Elliot had shown no remorse.  Elliot appealed his sentence and conviction. A decision is pending.  Elliot was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court. Photo / George Heard  This week, he was released on parole, and the survivor was told he still denied the offending and had not participated in any rehabilitation programmes in prison.  “Why the hell are they letting this guy out?” she said.  “I am really shocked they are letting a sex offender out without doing any kind of programme, and there is nothing to indicate he has done any sort of rehabilitation.”  The Parole Board refused to provide its decision to the Herald.  “Given that Mr Elliot has appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal, the board’s decision is withheld under section 6(c) of the Official Information Act, that is, prejudice to the maintenance of the law in relation to the right to a fair trial,” said a spokesperson.  The victim provided the details she had been given as to why Elliot was being released early.  “I am raging,” she said.  “He’s not done and doesn’t have to do a sex offender course. I’m furious and shocked… he’s getting out on parole after only one and a half years.”  Elliot’s statutory prison release date is December 27, 2028.  He became eligible for parole this month and appeared before the board on April 10.  “Mr Elliot’s defence was that while he plied a friend of a friend, the young woman in question, with some alcohol and they then started kissing and fondling, no more happened and there was certainly no sexual connection between them,” said board panel convenor Judge Gus Andrée Wiltens.  “Unfortunately, that was not believed insofar as he is concerned, and he was convicted.  “He has appealed his conviction. That matter was heard before the Court of Appeal in November of last year. A decision has yet to come out.”  Elliot was arrested and charged many years after the rape. His victim was too scared to report the assault for many years. Photo / 123rf  The board heard Elliot was a minimum security prisoner and had been assessed as being of “average risk of reoffending”.  “He was waitlisted for the [medium intensity chil... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:21:58 Z /news/national/weather-live-updates-heavy-rain-floods-canterbury-homes-and-roads-strong-winds-topple-trees/ /news/national/weather-live-updates-heavy-rain-floods-canterbury-homes-and-roads-strong-winds-topple-trees/ MetService has upgraded Wellington’s wind warning to a rare red level, with destructive 140km/h gales and a threat to life from flying items and falling trees. “Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.” The warning was issued at 10am and will last for 13 hours until 3am tomorrow. “Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages.” MetService said the wind would peak this afternoon, especially about the south coast and exposed hilltops before easing this evening. Meanwhile Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is heading to Canterbury to assess widespread flooding from torrential downpours. A local State of Emergency has been declared for the Selwyn District. Follow the latest updates from the wild weather in our blog below. (function(n){function c(t,i){n[e](h,function(n){var r,u;if(n&&(r=n[n.message?"message":"data"]+"",r&&r.substr&&r.substr(0,3)==="nc:")&&(u=r.split(":"),u[1]===i))switch(u[2]){case"h":t.style.height=u[3]+"px";return;case"scrolltotop":t.scrollIntoView();return}},!1)}for(var t,u,f,i,s,e=n.addEventListener?"addEventListener":"attachEvent",h=e==="attachEvent"?"onmessage":"message",o=n.document.querySelectorAll(".live-center-embed"),r=0;r',c(t.firstChild,i)))})(window);   Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:08:30 Z /news/sport/auckland-fcs-momentum-draws-sports-fans-into-auckland/ /news/sport/auckland-fcs-momentum-draws-sports-fans-into-auckland/ Auckland's newest professional sports team has hit the sweet spot with the city's sports fans - with hordes flocking to back Auckland FC. The team's black and blue stripes are taking over social media, the stands of Mt Smart Stadium and various pubs in New Zealand’s largest city.   The club didn't exist 18 months ago - but has consistently drawn big crowds to their home games all season. Their dominance in the A-League has likely aided momentum, with the side securing the Premiers Plate last Sunday in front of just over 24,000 fans. They are the first New Zealand side to win it - and head into the play-offs, hoping to take out the grand final in about a month's time. AUT Senior Lecturer in Sport Leadership and Management, Sarah Wymer, said Auckland has been ready for a football team for a long time.   "Football is one of the highest participation sports in New Zealand overall, so there’s been a lot of people playing the sport without a local team to follow." She said while it hasn’t pulled fans away from other sports, it’s definitely become a popular option for families – largely due to the earlier kickoffs and sideline entertainment.   "Comparing them to something like the Warriors, which has been on a Friday night at 8 o’clock, if I’m a family, I'm more likely to want to go and spend my money at something like Auckland FC."   Wymer said people also like being part of something from the start.   'Everyone's wearing their merchandise at the moment, and everyone's talking about it... there's these connections being made to the players and the team that extends beyond just riding a wave with them."   The club's online and in-person retail stores are consistently selling out of the most common sizes.   Chief Executive Nick Becker said the demand’s blown him away.   When they were setting up, they analysed the average sales of other A-League clubs, paired with being a brand-new team, to create realistic and aspiring targets.   He said they set what they thought was an ambitious goal of 10,000 shirt sales. "In short, we've doubled it," Becker said.   He said they’d planned to have everything shipped over by sea. Now, to cope with demand, they’re air freighting stock in. "In year one, to have that many jerseys out there is an amazing thing for the club." Becker says they love the fact the stands are full - and they love supporters group The Port with the noise, passion and colour they bring and the atmosphere they drive. Going forward – with play-offs and future seasons in mind, Becker said they're looking at ways to maintain momentum. He said they're preparing for a change in merchandise demand next season.   Becker said they're looking at innovative and exciting product ranges, because fans might not want to buy another home shirt, but they might buy a hoodie or a hat.  He said the team also wants to integrate itself with the community - by connecting with diverse groups and local clubs.   ‘We’re gonna keep on evolving our matchday experience to keep it fresh, exciting and entertaining.’ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:00:00 Z /news/national/man-jumps-from-auckland-ferry-no-police-investigation-deemed-out-of-reasonable-control-fullers360/ /news/national/man-jumps-from-auckland-ferry-no-police-investigation-deemed-out-of-reasonable-control-fullers360/ A man was rescued after intentionally jumping from a Waiheke ferry heading to Auckland. Fullers360 initiated a person-overboard procedure, and successfully recovered the passenger in low-visibility conditions. The man was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition; no police investigation. An Auckland ferry company said an emergency incident yesterday in which a man jumped from a Waiheke ferry “was out of our reasonable control”. Police have opted not to launch an investigation into the case, referring requests for further comment to ambulance services. The man was pulled from the water after going overboard from an Auckland-bound vessel on Tuesday morning after he intentionally jumped over the side, Fullers360 confirmed. The company said the passenger was successfully rescued after sparking an emergency response. “The individual concerned jumped on his own volition from a moving vessel - that is out of our reasonable control,” Fullers360 said. Police yesterday confirmed someone was located after falling in the water. Asked what investigations were under way into the incident today, a police spokesperson there was “no further police involvement” in the case. Maritime New Zealand has been approached for comment. Fullers360 ‘extremely proud’ of rescue efforts Fullers360 said: “Our crew immediately initiated standard person-overboard procedure, and search and rescue operations were launched. “Thanks to the swift response of our crew in low visibility conditions, the passenger was recovered and brought safely back on board the vessel.” The company said this was testament to the “robust training procedures we have in place”. “That said, we are extremely proud of our crew given the circumstances.” Hato Hone St John said an ambulance and helicopter responded, and the patient was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition. The incident caused the ferry to circle back to Waiheke Island, where police and ambulance staff quickly boarded the ship, and passengers were moved to a different boat. A Coastguard spokesperson said they were aware of the situation but not involved in the rescue, and a police vessel had attended the emergency. The police rescue boat at Waiheke Island after a man jumped overboard from a ferry heading to Auckland. A passenger said there appeared to be a degree of difficulty in getting the man back onboard the packed ferry. “[A] member of the staff yelled out, ‘Man overboard’,” the passenger said. “We quickly slowed and circled two lifebelts with lights thrown into the water.” The passengers were told to stay inside the cabin while the rescue operation was underway. “He seemed calm in the water, but [was] probably in shock [because] it would be cold,” the passenger said. Ferry passengers were told to stay inside the cabin while the rescue operation was underway. The passenger said he had not experienced anything similar in 22 years of travelling on the ferry. “Fullers handled it swiftly and well.” Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:59:24 Z /news/crime/banned-driver-blushes-as-judge-asks-why-he-continued-to-drive-like-an-idiot/ /news/crime/banned-driver-blushes-as-judge-asks-why-he-continued-to-drive-like-an-idiot/ Banned driver Isaac Alexander Ginty, 24, has added a fresh crop of convictions for driving offences to the 11 he had already. Judge Peter Hobbs highlighted Ginty’s “appallingly bad” record, sentencing him to community detention and community work. Ginty acknowledged his mistakes and aims to improve, with support from his father and employer. A young driver already banned from driving until 2029 because of his “appallingly bad” history went ahead and drove anyway. Isaac Alexander Ginty blushed as a judge told him he had “a history of driving like an idiot”, then almost collapsed in the dock after standing for so long during sentencing on Tuesday. The 24-year-old from the small Canterbury township of Kirwee was sentenced in the Nelson District Court on eight charges of driving while disqualified on a third or subsequent time, two of them representative charges. His convictions this week added to his tally of 11 previous for driving while disqualified or suspended, plus a “troubling” six more for dangerous driving, and numerous others for drink driving and failing to stop, Judge Peter Hobbs noted. Isaac Ginty and father Jerome Ginty outside the temporary Nelson Courthouse, where Isaac was sentenced on his latest crop of charges for driving while disqualified. Photo / Tracy Neal In December 2023, Ginty was disqualified for a year, but was then caught several times two months later riding a motorbike. In May last year, he was caught on five occasions driving a car, and again in August driving a different vehicle. Most of the offending occurred after Ginty was caught pulling out of various fuel stations between Christchurch, Nelson and Greymouth. “You are on a wheel of re-offending for offences of this kind,” Judge Hobbs said. Ginty now biked the 15 minutes to and from his work as a sandblaster and spray painter. He was described by Judge Hobbs as “on the edge of being young” and that “the male brain was not properly formed until age 25″. However, he was not given any discount in sentencing for his youth. Judge Hobbs lectured Ginty as a school headmaster might about the perils of poor driving. “Why are you being an idiot?”, he asked and said the courts were tired of people who ignored orders. “Eventually, we say ‘enough’s enough’, and you will go to jail.” Ginty said he knew he had “stuffed up” and that he now wanted to get ahead in life. Judge Hobbs said in taking into account Ginty’s appallingly bad record, a sentencing starting point of 18 months in prison was “easily achievable”, and that the roads were dangerous enough without people on them who didn’t respect the rules. “You have to stop doing this,” he said, and then asked him how Ginty would feel if he injured or killed someone. “I couldn’t live with myself,” Ginty replied. Judge Hobbs relayed the numerous times he had sentenced young men like him who had hurt, paralysed and even killed others through ignoring road rules. “I have done many sentencings and they are no fun.” Judge Hobbs said innocent members of the public were also placed at risk by drivers such as Ginty, but acknowledged that there had been no fault with his driving, only that he had continued to drive when he was not allowed. “You have to change your attitude. Your father, who is in court, has suggested the same.” Gerome Ginty, clearly emotional at what had transpired in the court, told ob体育接口 outside that parenting was a “forever job” and that he hoped his son had now reached a turning point. “He talks about one day owning a house and contributing to the community in a good way.” In sentencing Ginty to three months of community detention and 40 hours of community work on each charge, to be served concurrently, Judge Hobbs acknowledged his early guilty plea, the adversity he had faced in his early life that may have contributed to his behaviour, and the seven months he had already spent on electronic bail with a strict curfew, without issue. The community work sentence was given instead of a further... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:50:53 Z /news/politics/government-not-ruling-out-cuts-to-its-521-a-year-kiwisaver-contribution/ /news/politics/government-not-ruling-out-cuts-to-its-521-a-year-kiwisaver-contribution/ Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she has found “billions” in savings that will be redeployed to new spending in the 2025 Budget. Speaking to Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive, she refused to rule out whether those savings would come from cutting a KiwiSaver subsidy. The Treasury Secretary has spoken about means-testing the subsidy. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has left the door open to means-testing for large Budget items, including Government KiwiSaver subsidies, as she looks to make savings and chart a path back to surplus. Willis also left the door open to means-testing the Best Start payment for new parents, although this seems less likely. In an interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Tuesday, Willis was asked three times whether she could rule out some form of means-testing for the payments. While Willis ruled out changes to the Winter Energy Payment or the Emissions Trading Scheme, she did not rule out changes to KiwiSaver subsidies or Best Start. “You’ll have to wait and see in the Budget to see what savings we’re delivering. We’ve been really careful the proposals we’re putting forward are fair and affordable and they meet that test,” Willis said. When asked by du Plessis-Allan whether this was effectively confirmation of means-testing, Willis replied: “Well of course we have means-testing across government right now, which is basically that people on much higher incomes often don’t need as much support as people on lower incomes. “People on higher incomes aren‘t eligible for all the same supports as people on lower incomes are,” she said. Asked about further things that might be in the Budget, Willis pulled herself back. “Now we’re playing the rule-in, rule-out game,” she said. The Best Start payment was introduced as part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s “families package” passed in 2017. It gives families a $73 weekly payment to help with the costs of raising a young child. Currently, New Zealand residents aged 18 and over can get up to $521 a year dropped into their KiwiSaver accounts from the Government if they contribute the equivalent of about $20 a week - $1040 over the year. The payments are set to cost the Government $1.1 billion in the next Budget, or 0.7% of all core spending. A popular threshold for means-testing is about $180,000 for an individual or household — this is where the top tax rate kicks in. It is also the level at which a household can no longer claim the Family Boost tax credit. Willis has sought advice on KiwiSaver reforms and is keen to increase contribution rates. Labour‘s Finance Spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds said the refusal to rule out cuts to the two initiatives was “a clear sign that this Government is considering slashing vital support that Kiwis rely on”. “Failing to rule out cuts to these vital programmes is yet another terrible choice made by this Government. They had no problem borrowing $12b for tax cuts, but when it comes to investing in what Kiwis care about most — jobs, health, and homes — it’s cut after cut,” she said. While the Government borrowing programme was lifted by $12b at the last Budget, Treasury considered the 2024 tax cuts to have been fully funded. The increased borrowing was largely put down to the deteriorating economy reducing Government revenue. In her scene-setting speech on Tuesday, Willis said the Government had looked to extinguish old programmes that had not delivered value for money in order to redeploy that funding somewhere else in the Budget. While overall Government spending is set to increase this year - as it does every year - Willis’ Budget plan is to free up money to better fund existing services and new services by cutting spending elsewhere. She said most of the programmes that were facing cuts were begun under the last Labour Government, while other cuts were coming to things that had been around for some time. The KiwiSaver subsidies have existed since the Fifth Labour Government began the scheme in 2007. “Th... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:42:48 Z /news/national/witness-raises-alarm-after-hamilton-cyclist-goes-under-wheels-of-logging-truck/ /news/national/witness-raises-alarm-after-hamilton-cyclist-goes-under-wheels-of-logging-truck/ A Hamilton woman has recounted the moment she saw a logging truck crush a teen cyclist. The 17-year-old was trapped for 10 minutes before being freed by firefighters. She suffered multiple fractures and was taken to hospital in serious condition. A woman has been left shaken after watching a cyclist go under the wheels of a logging truck in a horrific pre-dawn accident at a Hamilton intersection. The 17-year-old female cyclist faces multiple surgeries and a long recovery ahead after the incident. The police serious crash unit is investigating. Witness Stephanie Sammut was sitting next to the logging truck at the intersection of Mill and Ulster streets early yesterday morning. “I saw a cyclist in the bicycle lane,” she told the Herald. The cyclist then decided to move out of the bike lane and into the cycle bay in front of the truck. “The lights went green, the cyclist was pedalling quite rapidly, and then all of a sudden the truck driver hit the back wheel of the cyclist and she went under. Sammut repeatedly honked her horn, stopped beside the truck, and called emergency services. “A Waikato Regional Council van was behind the truck. He had stopped, jumped out of the ute very quickly, and I told him I was on the phone to 111.” The Hamilton woman said the council staff member got on the ground, speaking to the cyclist trapped under the truck. “She was alive... I saw her legs.” Sammut waited for the police to turn up, spoke to them and carried on, shaken, to work. The cyclist’s sister told the Herald yesterday she was extremely fortunate to survive, but her body was left badly broken after being crushed by the truck. “Her brain is okay, but everything else is pretty messed up.” Her injuries include her pelvis being “split in half”, all the skin and muscle being torn off her left arm, two spinal fractures, at least two skull fractures, fractures in both wrists and ankles and several broken ribs. “She’s in a heck of a lot of pain, but she’s alive.” She said she had been trapped for about 10 minutes before firefighters were able to free her. The teen was on her way to the second day of work as an engineering apprentice. Her sister said she had worked hard to graduate early to do the course. A police spokesperson said they were called to the incident at 5.55am. Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Paul Radden said two crews from Hamilton and one from Chartwell managed to free the cyclist before leaving the scene for police. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:15:40 Z /news/business/indonesian-school-milk-programme-could-create-opportunities-for-nz-s-dairy-sector-rabobank/ /news/business/indonesian-school-milk-programme-could-create-opportunities-for-nz-s-dairy-sector-rabobank/ A new Indonesian school milk programme is expected to increase the country’s total dairy consumption and create opportunities for New Zealand and other global dairy players. This is according to a recent report, “Indonesia’s new school milk programme could nourish minds and global dairy markets”, by food and agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. Rabobank said the recently elected Indonesian Government had introduced a range of policy measures with the potential to transform the country’s dairy supply chain. RaboResearch senior analyst Michael Harvey said policy was centred around the nutritious meals programme, which aimed to combat malnutrition and promote healthy eating among school children. He said a key feature of the programme was to provide food, including milk, to 60 million students on every school day by 2029. RaboResearch estimates the total milk required at full implementation could surpass two billion litres. “This estimate is based on an anticipated 83 million recipients accounting for school absenteeism, lactose intolerance, and an average serving size between 125ml and 200ml,” Harvey said. The report said the ambitions behind the school milk programme had the potential to significantly increase Indonesian demand for liquid milk. Harvey said most of the milk consumed by Indonesia’s 280 million people in 2024 was imported, with domestic production estimated at 900 million litres, and an additional 2.5 billion litres (liquid milk equivalent) imported. To meet the growth in demand that will result from the programme, he said the Government and industry planned to significantly increase the national dairy herd. The report said that, as the rollout of the programme gathered pace, investment across Indonesia’s dairy sector was expected to accelerate, with more pronounced impacts on the global sector. “For Indonesia to achieve its ambitious milk supply growth targets and accommodate the considerable number of dairy cattle needed, it will need to scale up both live cattle supply and the local dairy supply chain,” Harvey said. “This will include need for feed genetics, farm infrastructure and farm management skills to support the expanding local industry. “And overall, we expect global input players and dairy companies to benefit.” While the school milk programme was likely to increase domestic supply and provide a tailwind for local Indonesian dairy players, Harvey said that Indonesian dairy import demand was also expected to rise. “Fundamentally, RaboResearch expects Indonesia to remain a net importer of dairy and anticipates that annual import volumes are likely to grow over the medium term.” Opportunities for New Zealand RaboResearch senior analyst Michael Harvey. Harvey said New Zealand had grown its market share in Indonesia’s skim milk powder market in recent years. He said the new programme could create opportunities to further lift dairy exports to Indonesia. “Even before the announcement of the school milk programme, Indonesia was viewed as a dairy market with long-term high growth potential and, in 2020, Fonterra announced plans to further invest in Indonesia by enhancing its blending and packing capabilities. Harvey said this investment had paid dividends, with New Zealand’s market share of Indonesian milk powder exports growing rapidly from 11% in 2019 to 39% in 2024. “And this significant recent growth places New Zealand in a strong position to capitalise on the expected lift in Indonesian dairy demand over the years ahead. “Clearly, Indonesia is an important trading partner for New Zealand dairy and will continue to present growth opportunities moving forward.” Harvey said the new school milk programme could also create live cattle export opportunities for New Zealand, given Indonesia’s desire to expand its domestic dairy cattle herd. “Historically, New Zealand had a large dairy cow/ heifer export business, exporting on average 90,000 head annually. “However, a ban was implemented in 2023 foll... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:03:07 Z /news/national/auckland-braces-for-severe-winds-thunderstorms-monster-10m-swells-cancel-cook-strait-ferries/ /news/national/auckland-braces-for-severe-winds-thunderstorms-monster-10m-swells-cancel-cook-strait-ferries/ Heavy downpours and severe gales are expected in eastern and upper regions today and tomorrow. Auckland faces severe winds during rush hour, while Wellington ferries are cancelled due to 10m swells. Canterbury is bracing for snow and up to 230mm of rain, causing potential flooding and slips. Aucklanders are bracing for severe winds during tonight’s rush hour, while ferries are cancelled in Wellington due to monster 10m swells and snow is expected to impact Canterbury roads. Heavy downpours and severe gales are lashing eastern and upper regions, with a risk of thunderstorms at the top of the north later today. Fierce 130km/h winds have also been tipped for Wellington overnight and tomorrow, potentially disrupting flights. There are also reports of flooding in Christchurch and landslides in North Canterbury this afternoon. MetService said the storm “could be a significant weather event, with large amounts of rainfall expected between today and Friday” for the east of the South Island in particular. MetService meteorologist Kgolofelo Dube said the heavy rain could mean further localised flooding, slips and poor driving conditions. There is a moderate chance of thunderstorms for the upper North Island this afternoon including Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Coromandel. Severe wind gusts are also tipped to strike Auckland at rush hour tomorrow morning, with a heavy wind watch coming into force at 7am. ‘Damaging’ 130km/h winds for Wellington, 10m swells cancel ferries Cook Strait ferries have been cancelled until Saturday because of monster 10-metre swells caused by the severe winds. A strong wind warning will begin for coastal areas of Wairarapa at 9am and last 15 hours. In Wellington, the watch will begin at 3am and last for 21 hours. MetService said the wind, an unusually strong southerly, threatened trees which were typically only at risk from northerlies. “This means that trees ... may be more vulnerable ... making them more prone to damage.” MetService has also issued the watch for Marlborough Sounds, Horowhenua and Kāpiti Coast, inland areas of Wairarapa, the Tararua District, and Hawke’s Bay south of Hastings tomorrow. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research reported gusts may reach 120km/h in some places. MetService said winds could hit 130km/h. Across the Cook Strait, the same watch will begin for Coastal Marlborough south of Blenheim, including the Kaikōura Coast at 1am and last for 21 hours. MetService is urging these communities to prepare for trees and powerlines to be damaged and to tie down any unsecured structures like trampolines. “I can imagine that as well there’ll be some kind of transportation issues with those strong winds,” Dube said. A strong wind watch will begin at 7am for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, and Waikato north of Hamilton, with warnings the westerly winds may turn to severe gales in exposed areas. Cantabrians told to brace for 40 hours of rain Meanwhile, multiple regions in Canterbury were told to brace for close to 40 hours of rain, some even more. State Highway 1 at Greta Valley in North Canterbury was blocked about 1.20pm today due to a slip near Stonyhurst Rd. The Christchurch City Council said roads were flooded in New Brighton and Wainoni. A heavy rain warning was issued for the Kaikōura Coast and ranges, Canterbury about and north of Amberley, between Amberley and Timaru, including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula at 10am. In Kaikōura, residents have been warned to expect between 180-230mm of rain over 44 hours, those north of Amberley should expect between 160-210mm over 35 hours and 120-160mm is forecast for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula over 32 hours. Along with the heavy rain, snow is also expected to fall as the wintry blast sends temperatures plummeting. Dube said cold fronts passing over the country from the south were the driving force behind the dropping temperatures. A heavy snow warning is in place for Canterbury hi... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:51:13 Z /news/national/whakapapa-holdings-ltd-to-run-north-island-ski-field-doc-grants-10-year-concession/ /news/national/whakapapa-holdings-ltd-to-run-north-island-ski-field-doc-grants-10-year-concession/ Whakapapa Holdings Limited will be the new operator of the Whakapapa ski field after the Department of Conservation today granted a 10-year concession. It is the latest development for the plagued ski field that faced concerns it wasn’t commercially viable and the downfall of ski company Ruapehu Alpine Lifts. Department of Conservation director-general Penny Nelson today confirmed through a statement the decade-long concession would allow Whakapapa Holdings Ltd (WHL) to run the ski field and use the Whakapapa village’s six buildings for accommodation. “DoC will be closely monitoring the ski field activity to ensure everything is running smoothly. “Giving the rights to use such valuable public conservation land is something I considered carefully, taking into account the feedback through the concession process, including from iwi engagement, public notification and hearings.” More to come Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for ob体育接口 since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:38:05 Z /news/world/pope-francis-death-ultra-conservatives-are-pushing-for-a-pope-like-them-why-it-might-not-happen/ /news/world/pope-francis-death-ultra-conservatives-are-pushing-for-a-pope-like-them-why-it-might-not-happen/ In the crush of Catholic Church news in the week since Pope Francis died, a theme keeps appearing in social media memes and quotes from the commentariat: hope, even optimism, that the next pontiff will be a true conservative, someone from the ranks of what was a passionate traditionalist opposition to Pope Francis. “Conservative Wisconsin bishop who could become first American Pope,” was the Daily Mail Online headline about Raymond Burke, a staunch advocate for the traditional Latin Mass. The Reverend Gerald Murray, a conservative commentator, told Newsmax TV that the cardinals selecting the new Pope are “going to return to a more John Paul II-, Benedict-style and substance of governance in the church”. It may be so much wishful thinking. Some arch-conservatives are campaigning to propel one of their own to the forefront of discussions over Pope Francis’ successor. Burke is among those whose name has placed high on some circulating lists, for unspecified reasons. Other hardline conservatives, including Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, have managed to land among the favourites with the gambling firm William Hill. But close church-watchers say the rumour mill about a hard-right post-Pope Francis turn rather reflects the built-up longings of a small but passionate, devoted and loud segment of the American church. After enduring a Pope for more than a decade whom some saw as damaging to the faith, American conservatives think this might be their moment. The faithful confess after visiting the tomb of Pope Francis to pay their respects at St Mary Major Basilica in Rome. Photo / Washington Post “A large number of American conservative Catholics would basically dream of having Cardinal Burke as the next Pope, but they’re disconnected to reality,” said Alejandro Bermúdez, a long-time figure in American conservative Catholic media who is consulting for the news site Catholic Vote. A senior Vatican official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to frame internal discussions dismissed Burke and Sarah – and candidates like them – out of hand. “There is no space for them in the [minds of] the vast majority of the cardinals. They’ve got zero chance.” Of Turkson, a senior cleric who speaks six languages and is a favourite of traditionalists, the official noted that his removal by Pope Francis from a senior position in 2021 appeared to diminish his chances. Several other Vatican-watchers agreed. The Reverend Thomas Reese, an American priest who has written several books about the inner workings of the Catholic Church and has closely followed papal conclaves, called reports of an ultraconservative front-runner “nonsense”. Some 80% of the cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, Reese told the Washington Post, “and they are not going to elect someone who is then going to stand up and say that the Francis papacy was a disaster and we’re going back to the old church. That is not going to happen”. Reese said he thinks cardinals will look this time for a moderate. But what does that word mean? To some US conservatives, it means backing off things that seem to demote or dismiss traditional practices or doctrine: removing limitations Pope Francis put on the Latin Mass; refraining from things like establishing special policies around blessing LGBTQ couples; no futzing around with rules and traditions – such as appointing so many cardinals that the number is now over the norm. The Reverend Robert Sirico, a Michigan-based priest-commentator who went from same-sex marriage advocate to free-market conservative, said he thinks most US conservatives want a compromise on matters like the traditional Latin Mass, the ancient form of Catholic worship that Pope Francis strictly limited in 2021, saying it was becoming a sign of rebellion against the modern church. The Mass is said in Latin with the priest facing away from the congregation. “Overall, conservative Catholics would just like some clarity and theological... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:09:49 Z /news/politics/winston-peters-to-make-trip-to-new-caledonia/ /news/politics/winston-peters-to-make-trip-to-new-caledonia/ Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to New Caledonia this week on his second trip to the territory in less than six months. There has been a change of Government since his last visit. New Caledonia has been a trouble spot in the Pacific following civil unrest last year, sparked by a heavy-handed constitutional reform from France, the territory’s colonial power. Peters will meet the French Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, and the President of the Government of New Caledonia, Alcide Ponga. Valls is a senior French politician, having previously served as Prime Minister under President François Hollande. Ponga became President earlier this year, after Peters’ last visit. He leads a party that favours closer relations with France. “This visit comes at an important moment in New Caledonia’s history and reinforces New Zealand’s commitment to being a constructive partner in the region for both New Caledonia and France,” Peters said. “We are looking forward to meeting the new leadership of the Government of New Caledonia and continuing New Zealand’s warm and long-standing relationship with France. “New Zealand wants to listen, learn and support New Caledonia’s pathway forward as a neighbour and fellow member of the Pacific Islands Forum,” he said. Tensions are still high in the territory after last year’s unrest. Some New Caledonians, primarily members of the Indigenous Kanak community, want full independence from France, while others, primarily those who trace their ancestry back to France, prefer a closer relationship. Valls, visiting the territory for the third time in two months, said all parties needed to try to make a new political agreement possible or risk a civil war. “We’ll take our responsibilities, on our part, and we will put on the table a project that touches New Caledonia’s society, economic recovery, including nickel, and the future of the younger generation”, he told French journalists on Sunday. RNZ Pacific reported Valls said there existed a “difficult path” that might reconcile the views of those who wanted full independence for the territory and those who wanted it to remain part of France. “If there is no agreement, then economic and political uncertainty can lead to a new disaster, to confrontation and to civil war”, he said. Peters will also visit the Pacific Community (SPC), a leading science and technical agency in the Pacific, and meet with Director-General Dr Stuart Minchin. Thomas Coughlan is the NZ Herald political editor and covers politics from Parliament. He has worked for the Herald since 2021 and has worked in the Press Gallery since 2018. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:58:38 Z /news/crime/police-probe-unexplained-death-in-feilding-at-home-of-elderly-woman-and-son/ /news/crime/police-probe-unexplained-death-in-feilding-at-home-of-elderly-woman-and-son/ Police are looking into an unexplained death at a Feilding property where a mother and son lived. A police car remained outside the Campbell St house overnight, with a scene examination under way. Neighbours said the mother and son “kept to themselves” and there were “quite a few cops” present. Police are continuing to look into an unexplained death at a Feilding property where it’s understood an elderly mother and car-loving son lived who “kept to themselves”. A police car was stationed outside the house on Campbell St in the Manawatū town of Feilding after a guard was placed on the property yesterday afternoon. Officers were called to the address about 12.50pm on Tuesday after a person was found dead at the home. Police said the scene examination began this morning and would continue across the day. “Police will guard the scene again overnight.” Neighbour Albert James said an elderly woman and her adult son had lived in the house and were “very quiet”. He said they had never caused any problems on the street. “We didn’t see much of her ... they kept to themselves. “The boy was a bit of a car fanatic, a typical Kiwi lad doing his work on cars in the shed. “We know that there’s a body but that’s all,” he said. James said there were about four police vehicles outside the house today with officers investigating inside, but the street was “all quiet”. “The police were there all day yesterday.” Death ‘tragic’ for township Manawatū District Mayor Helen Worboys said it was “tragic” to hear news of the unexplained death. She said from her understanding it was a younger person who had died. “It is distressing to hear of a young person’s death,” she said. “So far it is an unexplained death, no suspicious circumstances at this stage, and they [the police] won’t know more until the autopsy and report has been done later in the week.” Another neighbour, who lives across the road from the house, said there were “quite a few cops” around yesterday. “A mother and son live there, they’re pretty quiet, they don’t really cause a lot of issues,” she said. Another woman living on the street confirmed a mother and son had lived there but they had largely “kept to themselves”. Police said the death was being treated as unexplained at this time. “We know the police presence will be unsettling for Campbell St residents. However, we want to reassure them there is no cause for alarm.” Worboys said it was worrying for the community but they just had to await the outcome of the police process. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:38:11 Z /news/national/king-s-college-headmaster-simon-lamb-steps-down-after-nearly-10-years/ /news/national/king-s-college-headmaster-simon-lamb-steps-down-after-nearly-10-years/ Simon Lamb will step down as headmaster of King’s College later this year. Lamb plans to start a consultancy to support and nurture school leaders. The board will conduct a thorough search for a replacement, both locally and internationally. King’s College, the prestigious Auckland private school, has announced the departure of its headmaster this afternoon. In an email to parents, the board of governors chair Shan Wilson said headmaster Simon Lamb had decided to step down at the end of the 2025 school year. “As we start another term at King’s College, the board of governors wishes to share with our community that Simon Lamb has informed us of his intention to step down as headmaster at the end of this school year,” the statement said. Wilson said Lamb plans to start his own consultancy to support and nurture school leaders after he leaves. “The board respects his decision, appreciates all he has given the college through his tenure and wishes him all the best with his future plans. Having led the college with stability for over nine years now, Simon offers the same in his resignation, providing generous notice of his intended departure,” Wilson said. The statement said Lamb had a quarter of a century of experience as a school leader, including 22 years as a principal and 10 years at King’s College. During Lamb’s time as the headmaster, a staff member resigned after admitting to “inappropriate online activity” with a minor who was catfished by a fake identity. Lamb notified police, who later found no criminal offences had been committed by the man. A heavily redacted letter sent to Lamb from police said online contact “of a sexual nature” was actively sought online by a person who created a fake identity claiming to be 15 years old. The staffer was “lured into this catfishing scam”, police said. As a result, police told Lamb they could take no action in relation to the alleged sexual offences. In the police’s case summary report, it mentioned the staffer had admitted he had “dabbled” in online sexual behaviour with minors. King’s College headmaster Simon Lamb is stepping down. Who will be the next headmaster? Wilson said the board appreciates the time Lamb gave to the school and will start the planning process to find the next leader. “We will undertake a thorough and extensive search throughout New Zealand and overseas to find a new head of college.” Wilson said Lamb felt he had more to offer the education sector, so he was going to use his skills and experience to support other principals. Lamb told the board that he felt privileged to have had the opportunity to lead King’s College. He said that he and his wife Catherine would miss the college environment including staff, community and, most importantly, the students. The board thanked Lamb for his contribution to the betterment of the college. The board said they have a strong education and business leadership team below Lamb that would help transition to a new head. “Simon believes he will step away from King’s College at the end of this year knowing that the school is in great heart and a strong position.” Lamb was principal at Takapuna Grammar School for almost 13 years before he started at the Ōtāhuhu school. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:22:41 Z /news/business/business-confidence-falls-9-points-as-us-tariff-turmoil-takes-a-toll/ /news/business/business-confidence-falls-9-points-as-us-tariff-turmoil-takes-a-toll/ ANZ‘s Business Outlook survey shows confidence has taken a hit in April as US trade policy rattled markets. “The month of April was punctuated by global market turmoil precipitated by US tariff announcements,” said ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner. “We can divide our sample into those received early in the month, mostly between 1 and 4 April, and those received late in the month.” “The latter sample is smaller and therefore subject to more statistical noise and volatility and we would take it as a directional signal rather than taking the numbers as gospel.” However, the data did support the idea that the turmoil has had a marked negative impact on most forward-looking indicators, she said. The impact was most acute on headline business confidence and businesses’ plans to invest. Business confidence fell nine points to +49 in April. Meanwhile, expected own activity fell just one point to 48. More positively, past own activity jumped 10 points to 11, while past employment jumped eight points to two, Zollner said. “Activity indicators overall continue to tell a tale of an economy that’s recovering,” she said. Pricing and cost indicators indicated a margin squeeze from ongoing cost pressures. But one-year-ahead inflation expectations were little changed at 2.65%. “Looking at the detail, firms on average expect costs to rise 2.7% over the next three months, while they expect to raise prices by just 1.8% over the same period. “That indicates margin squeeze – a long-running theme – amidst persistent cost pressures,” she said. Zollner noted that ANZ had recently revised down its forecast for growth and the Official Cash Rate, “partly because some of the high-frequency data has started to stutter a little”. “But also because we suspected that the uncertainty around the global outlook and broader policy moves by the US administration would lead some firms to put their investment and employment plans back on the shelf. “This month’s survey results suggest that could well be the case. But we’ll have to wait and see whether the impact is short-lived or lasting. “That in itself will depend not least on whether trade spats de-escalate or worsen from here”. ANZ economists now expect the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate to 2.5% – 50 basis points lower than previously assumed. Liam Dann is business editor-at-large for the New Zealand Herald. He is a senior writer and columnist and also presents and produces videos and podcasts. He joined the Herald in 2003. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:00:11 Z /news/national/more-than-1-million-nz-child-sex-abuse-online-viewing-attempts-as-ai-content-increases/ /news/national/more-than-1-million-nz-child-sex-abuse-online-viewing-attempts-as-ai-content-increases/ More than 1 million attempts to view child sexual abuse material online in New Zealand were blocked last year, a 13% drop in pageviews from the previous year. The statistic is revealed in the annual Digital Child Exploitation Transparency Report, which includes a stark warning about “disturbingly realistic” generative artificial child sexual exploitation material that is becoming more common. The report, authored by the Department of Internal Affairs, said 1,032,683 attempts nationally to access websites known to harbour child sex material were blocked by a web filter integrated across most New Zealand internet providers. The highest number of attempts for one region, 294,336, took place in Auckland. Christchurch registered the second-highest (186,244), followed by Wellington (98,665), New Plymouth (25,196), Dunedin (23,175) and Palmerston North (18,537). In 2024, Internal Affairs, Police and Customs received 16,223 referrals from the United States-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children concerning child sex exploitation content. The platform linked to the highest number of referrals (5834) was Snapchat, followed by Facebook (2439) and Instagram (1888). Almost 3000 referrals were assessed by Internal Affairs, including referrals about content involving child abuse, bestiality, and necrophilia. The report referenced one operation that launched in 2020 in response to an offender distributing child sex material on an online messaging platform. It led to the discovery of a network of seven New Zealand-based offenders with “harmful sexual behaviours towards children”. Two were referred to the police while the remaining five were apprehended on a range of charges, from indecent acts on a child to distributing objectionable material. Two had since died. The operation, which led to the “safeguarding” of one New Zealand child, uncovered more than 12,000 pieces of child sex material which involved “infants who were exposed to obvious and intentional suffering”. Across the year, 14 New Zealand children were “helped to be safeguarded” according to the report. Internal Affairs also identified several emerging harms that could complicate the policing of child sex abuse material, ranging from improved encryption across technology platforms and the growing number of methods to pay electronically for such material. One threat was the rise in “generative artificial” content. More than 700 reports of such content had been made since 2023. The report said fake images and videos had become “disturbingly realistic” amid ongoing technological advancement, meaning investigators had to invest more time in determining whether the children visible in the material were real or not. “This content is becoming easier to generate, normalising this type of offending and encouraging the sexual abuse of children.” Adam Pearse is the deputy political editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for ob体育接口 since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:50:50 Z /news/world/trump-administration-fires-holocaust-museum-board-members-including-emhoff/ /news/world/trump-administration-fires-holocaust-museum-board-members-including-emhoff/ The Trump administration terminated members of the US Holocaust Memorial Council, including Doug Emhoff. Emhoff condemned the politicisation of Holocaust remembrance, emphasising its danger and dishonour to victims. The White House plans to appoint new members supportive of Israel, sparking criticism of the move. The Trump administration has terminated members of the board that oversees the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, including Doug Emhoff, the husband of former vice-president Kamala Harris. “Today, I was informed of my removal from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council,” Emhoff said in a statement posted to social media. “Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicised. To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous – and it dishonours the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.” The White House confirmed to The Washington Post that President Donald Trump is planning to appoint new members to the board, though it stopped short of confirming the reports that it terminated members of the current board. The Holocaust Museum in Washington is seen in August 2020. Photo / The Washington Post “President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honour the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to The Post. On Tuesday morning (local time), some board members received a termination email from Mary Sprowls of the White House presidential personnel office. According to board member Alan D. Solomont, who received the email, it read: “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” Emhoff, who is Jewish, has been outspoken against the rise in antisemitism. Other terminated board members included Jon Finer, the former deputy national security adviser, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private conversation. Both Emhoff and Finer were among the members appointed to the board by President Joe Biden in January 2025. The Holocaust Memorial Museum is a nonprofit federal institution funded by federal appropriations and private contributions. It attracts millions of visitors every year who learn about and memorialise the millions of people who were killed in the Holocaust. The museum was first authorised by Congress in 1980 and opened in 1993. The board of trustees, known as the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, typically meets twice a year. The council traditionally has 68 members, including 55 members appointed by the president, as well as 10 members added by the Senate and House of Representatives. Three more members were appointed by the Departments of State, Interior and Education. Members usually serve five-year terms, with 11 members’ terms expiring each year. “At this time of high antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial, the Museum is gratified that our visitation is robust and demand for Holocaust education is increasing,” the museum said in a statement to the Post. “We look forward to continuing to advance our vitally important mission as we work with the Trump administration.” Amy Spitalnick, chief executive of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, condemned the terminations in a post on X: “This administration appears to be doing everything in its power to turn antisemitism into a political wedge – and it makes Jews, and everyone, less safe.” Andrew Weinstein, a former board member at the museum, disapproved, too. “The primary mission of the museum is to advance knowledge of the Holocaust and preserve the memory of its victims,” he wrote on Bluesky. “Removing Biden appointees is petty and vindictive a... Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:24:22 Z /news/national/wellington-woman-appears-in-court-charged-with-throwing-nitric-acid-at-man/ /news/national/wellington-woman-appears-in-court-charged-with-throwing-nitric-acid-at-man/ Police were called to a Johnsonville address late last night after an alleged acid attack. A 51-year-old woman was arrested and charged with throwing nitric acid at a man. She appeared in court today and was granted interim name suppression on mental health grounds. A 51-year-old woman has appeared in court accused of throwing a highly corrosive acid on a man late last night. The alleged attacker, who wore a blue boiler suit and stood with her head bowed during the brief court appearance, will keep her name secret for now so the court can assess “complex mental health issues” at play. Police were called to a Sim St address in the Wellington suburb of Johnsonville at 11.10pm yesterday. “The victim received acid burns to an arm and clothing, and was treated by an ambulance crew at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. The alleged offender then fled the scene before emergency services arrived, but was found at a Kipling St property about 1.50am. She was taken into custody without incident. According to court documents, the defendant intended to injure the complainant by throwing nitric acid at him. Nitric acid, also known as aqua fortis and spirit of niter, is a highly corrosive mineral acid. If inhaled, health risks include corrosion of mucous membranes, delayed pulmonary oedema, and even death. It can cause severe chemical burns if it comes in contact with skin. The woman did not enter pleas to the charge when she appeared before Judge John Walker in the Wellington District Court today. Her lawyer Julia Spiers told the court she had “complex mental health issues”. A 51-year-old woman was arrested at a Kipling St address in Johnsonville after an incident involving acid in the early hours of April 30. Photo / Melissa Nightingale Judge John Walker granted the woman interim name suppression on mental health grounds and declined media applications to photograph the defendant. She has been remanded in custody without plea until mid-May. Sleepless night after ‘commotion’ A man named George who lives in the adjoining flat said a man and woman had moved in there about a month ago and had fought loudly from the first day. “First day they moved in they were arguing, smashing windows,” said George, who has lived there for 15 years. “At least it was on their side and not mine.” He did not hear a fight last night but said he heard a commotion when emergency services arrived. “I heard the cops banging on their door. “There were two hazmat trucks and a couple of other fire engines on the scene.” George said he heard his name mentioned through the wall by a police officer and, not realising it was the police, went outside to yell over the fence: “Oi, who the bloody hell do you want you pricks?” He then discovered “Oh crap it’s a cop.” George said he didn’t manage to get any sleep last night. He said fighting couples are common in the adjoining flats, noting the previous tenants were much the same. Another neighbour across the street did not hear anything happening last night but said he tried to stay away from the house on the corner. He said he heard people at the house screaming about two or three times a week. A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were called to Kipling St just after 1am to assist police. They sent five fire trucks and four support vehicles to the scene. A police spokesperson said inquiries were ongoing. Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years. Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined ob体育接口 in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Manera is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:19:07 Z /news/world/beautiful-job-trump-faithful-applaud-president-at-100-day-mark/ /news/world/beautiful-job-trump-faithful-applaud-president-at-100-day-mark/ Supporters celebrated Donald Trump‘s first 100 days back in office at a rally in Michigan. The event highlighted Trump’s immigration crackdown and right-wing agenda, sparking mixed reactions from attendees. Some praised Trump’s actions, while others voiced concerns about deportations and economic policies. With music blasting and flags flying, supporters of Donald Trump celebrated his barnstorming first 100 days back in office as they gathered in Michigan in a party-like atmosphere to see the US President speak. “He’s done a beautiful job,” said seller Donna Fitzsimons, 65, as she prepared an array of Trump merchandise — including special “I Was There!” badges to mark the milestone. Throngs of people, many sporting Trump’s famous red baseball cap, filed into the Macomb Community College venue north of US carmaking hub Detroit and near the border of American friend-turned-foe Canada. Tunes blared on speakers in the carpark, including a cover of the Village People’s YMCA that Trump favours at his rallies, which instead spelled out “MAGA” in its chorus — Make American Great Again. US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech marking his 100th day in office at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren, Michigan. Photo / AFP Wednesday’s event marks 100 hectic days in the White House dominated by an immigration crackdown, sweeping levies and a wider right-wing agenda that has pitted Trump against the courts amid complaints of executive overreach. “He’s taken quick action on things,” said janitor Kyle Murphy, 45, who praised Trump for “calling out wokeness” and the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) led by his billionaire ally Elon Musk. Steve Camber, a 60-year-old retired nurse, agreed: “No one can do anything in 100 days that quickly. But I think he’s doing really good, and Doge is doing amazing things.” Today’s event marked Trump’s return to his campaign trail stomping grounds in blue-collar Macomb County, which helped him win the crucial swing state of Michigan. ‘Love’ For some attendees, it was a chance to show their love for the Republican leader. “Any opportunity to see our president is exciting for me,” said Lisa Reeves, a 55-year-old decorator, who sported a sparkly Maga hat. “We love President Trump and his family. We just love their heart for America and the morality that they have for this country.” Still, some at the event voiced reservations about Trump’s actions, as opinion polls have shown a slump in support for the US president since January. Nelly Nkouka, 40, who moved to the United States from Congo in 2005, said she liked that Trump was “honest” but was hesitant about his large-scale deportation of migrants. “I think everybody needs a chance to be here,” the care home supervisor said. “Somebody needs to talk to him about it, to let people have an American dream.” Zaid Hanif, 29, backed Trump’s clampdown on the southern US border but was disappointed about his coziness with Israel, and his failure to make China concede in the countries’ ongoing trade war. Still, he was confident Trump could fix the economic turbulence triggered by stop-start tariffs policies that advocates say will boost American industry. “Obviously, the economy is not too good right now, but to fix it, if you’re not feeling well, you’re going to take some medicine, and medicine doesn’t always taste the best,” said Hanif, a textiles business owner. Fitzsimons, the merchandise seller, agreed: “It takes time to get to where you need to go... Let it play out.”  -Agence France-Presse Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:13:57 Z /news/crime/trade-me-auction-for-corrections-uniform-prompts-police-investigation/ /news/crime/trade-me-auction-for-corrections-uniform-prompts-police-investigation/ The Corrections Department and New Zealand Police are investigating after a prison officer’s uniform was listed on online auction website Trade Me.  The listing for a Corrections jacket has been removed from the website, with Trade Me saying it breached its policies. However, a screengrab appears to show that the item had already been sold.  Corrections is now attempting to find out whether the seller was a current or former staff member. The department has strict rules about use of its uniforms, and it is against the law to impersonate prison staff.  Commissioner Custodial Services Leigh Marsh said the department became aware of the listing on April 9 and immediately conducted inquiries.  The department was still trying to establish the identity of the seller, and had referred the matter to police.  “Under Department of Corrections Policy, staff members must return all uniform items when they leave the department for safety and security reasons,” Marsh said.  “They must also return any unusable items at any stage during their employment. Unusable items will have all branding removed and destroyed.”  Uniforms could not be passed to other staff members. If uniforms were stolen or lost, staff were expected to immediately report this to their manager. And if items were suspected to have been stolen, it was reported to police.  “All staff are expected to follow our policies and if we receive any information suggesting staff are not meeting the standard required of them, we investigate and take the appropriate action,” Marsh said.  A screengrab of the Trade Me listing for a Corrections officer jacket, which was later removed.  A screengrab of the Trade Me listing showed that it was being sold without a reserve and had attracted 11 bids. The pick-up address was listed on Auckland’s North Shore. Another screengrab showed the seller congratulating a buyer on April 14 and arranging pick-up details.  Trade Me said it could not discuss any member’s account activity for privacy reasons.  But policy and compliance manager James Ryan said that it was against Trade Me’s rules to sell emergency services uniforms, including Corrections uniforms. Only items which could be legally sold were able to be listed on Trade Me, he said.  “We have a dedicated team who monitor the site constantly for things that shouldn’t be there. However, with eight million listings onsite right now, we cannot vet every listing.”  Under the Corrections Act, it is an offence to pretend to be a security officer or Corrections employee.  In 2022, a notorious escape artist used a Corrections uniform to escape Rimutaka Prison.  Damon Exley, who stole the uniform off a guard, went on to rape a woman who picked him up while hitchhiking, leading to a major investigation and an apology from Corrections.  Damon Exley in the High Court in Wellington in 2023. Photo / Mark Mitchell  Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:02:29 Z /news/sport/black-caps-great-tim-southee-tipped-to-join-england-coaching-staff/ /news/sport/black-caps-great-tim-southee-tipped-to-join-england-coaching-staff/ Black Caps great Tim Southee is reportedly being lined up to take a coaching role with the England cricket team following his retirement from cricket.  The BBC reports England are looking at Southee as a fast-bowling consultant to replace Sir James Anderson who has playing commitments over the English summer.  Southee bowed out in December with a record-levelling victory over England, finishing with 2-34 in England’s second innings to end his career with 391 test wickets, second only to Sir Richard Hadlee on 431.  Southee played 394 internationals for the Black Caps, a large number of which were alongside current England coach Brendon McCullum. Former Black Cap Jeetan Patel is also an assistant coach.  It’s a big upcoming schedule for the England test side with a five-match series against India on home soil before they head to Australia for the Ashes in November.  Tue, 29 Apr 2025 23:48:36 Z /news/national/asb-forecasts-reserve-bank-may-need-to-make-deeper-ocr-cuts/ /news/national/asb-forecasts-reserve-bank-may-need-to-make-deeper-ocr-cuts/ ASB believes RBNZ may have to cut OCR below present forecasts  Flat government, business and household spending could force the RBNZ into deeper OCR cuts  Tariff uncertainty makes RBNZ forward guidance challenging  The Reserve Bank may have to cut its benchmark cash rate even further to support the economy after the Government said it would slash the amount available for new policies to $1.3 billion, according to an economist.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the May 22 Budget would be no “lolly scramble” with any increase in spending going to targeted priorities in health, education, and defence, with some modest support for business growth.  ASB senior economist Mark Smith said the Government had a clear intention of getting its house in order, and in doing so would reduce its stimulus for the economy.  “Really, what it’s doing, is to put more onus on the Reserve Bank to try to provide more support to the economy. Trimming operational spending increases will result in a more contractionary impulse.  “As a result, the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will be lower than it would otherwise be.”  The RBNZ has previously signalled the OCR to fall to a neutral rate about 3% by the end of the year, but noted in its April decision there was much uncertainty and future cuts would be influenced by medium-term inflation expectations continuing to fall.  Trumpflation clouds picture  Smith said the Government’s Budget cut would trim about 0.3% off the value of the economy, which would be a dampener on an already struggling economy.  That would help ease possible inflation pressures, but raised the prospect the RBNZ might need to support the economy with interest rate cuts and cheaper borrowing costs.  But too much stimulation can cause inflation, while inflation risks are raised by tariffs and trade wars, justifying a high OCR.  BNZ head of research Stephen Toplis said “Trumpflation” — a simultaneous mix of rising inflation and poor growth caused by higher tariffs — was causing leading central banks around the world headaches in forecasting and pointing to their interest rate strategies.  The RBNZ might find itself following the lead of the Bank of Canada and the European Central Bank in not issuing guidance on interest rates in the May 28 monetary policy statement, he said.  Slowing growth and rising inflation — stagflation — is not in the playbook, and will have the RBNZ dusting off one of its favourite soundbites — “least worse choice”.  -Jeffrey Halley, RNZ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 23:27:28 Z /news/crime/deane-fuller-sandys-case-crown-announces-it-won-t-pursue-gone-fishing-double-murder-retrial-for-stephen-stone/ /news/crime/deane-fuller-sandys-case-crown-announces-it-won-t-pursue-gone-fishing-double-murder-retrial-for-stephen-stone/ The Crown will not pursue a retrial for Stephen Ralph Stone, whose convictions were quashed in October.  It’s been over 25 years since the “Gone Fishing” double-murder trial, which had already been considered a cold case.  Stone was released from prison after the Court of Appeal found a miscarriage of justice, but he remained on bail as the Crown mulled a retrial.  The Crown announced today it will not pursue a retrial for high-profile double-murder defendant Stephen Ralph Stone, six months after the Court of Appeal quashed his 25-year-old jury trial convictions.  The decision now leaves Stone - who was released from prison in October but remained under bail conditions until a planned 2026 trial - a completely free man for the first time in decades.  Auckland Crown Solicitor Alysha McClintock confirmed the decision during a brief hearing this morning before Justice Timothy Brewer in the High Court at Auckland.  She said it is important to note that the case is now about what can be proved with admissible evidence.  “I have concluded there is no longer sufficient evidence available to the Crown,” she said, pointing out that three of the four major witnesses in the case are no longer available. “Important context to the trial ... would not be available.”  Stone, now much older, wore a white t-shirt and mumbled, seemingly annoyed, as the prosecutor read aloud the prepared statement.  “Thank God,” he said as Justice Brewer confirmed that he now has the equivalent of an acquittal.  “So you are now free to leave the dock,” Brewer said.  Stone didn’t wait around as other cases were called. He left the courtroom immediately.  “F*** off!” he yelled at reporters who surrounded him as he left the courthouse a short time later.  The death of tyre fitter Deane Fuller-Sandys - a 21-year-old initially presumed to have drowned while fishing along Auckland’s west coast in 1989 - was already considered a cold case when jurors in the High Court at Auckland found Stone guilty of murder in 1999.  Stephen Stone was found guilty in 1999 of the 1989 murders of Dean Fuller-Sandys and Leah Stephens (inset), but 25 years later the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial. Photo / Russell Smith  It was at the time dubbed the “Gone Fishing” case by the media.  Stone was found guilty at the same trial of having raped and murdered witness Leah Stephens five days after the first killing.  The bouncer and Black Power gang member was later ordered to serve two concurrent life sentences for the murder convictions and 10 years’ imprisonment for the rape charge.  Co-defendant Gail Maney, twice found guilty of Fuller-Sandys’ murder, was fully acquitted as a result of last year’s Court of Appeal decision after prosecutors acknowledged a miscarriage of justice had occurred. But Stone was granted only a retrial for reasons that were at the time suppressed.  Mark Henriksen and Colin Maney - Gail Maney’s brother - were acquitted by the same appellate panel of being accessories to Fuller-Sandys’ murder.  Stephen Stone before he was convicted of the murders of Dean Fuller-Sandys and Leah Stephens.  Prosecutors had alleged during the previous trials that Gail Maney ordered Stone to kill Fuller-Sandys because he had stolen drugs, money and leather goods from her.  After Fuller-Sandys stopped by the flat on his way to a fishing trip, it was alleged, he was confronted and shot in the garage in front of numerous witnesses. Prosecutors said the gun was passed around and others were encouraged to shoot him.  Fuller-Sandys’ body was then buried at Woodhill Forest before his car was dumped at the fishing spot in Whatipu, they alleged.  It was alleged Stone then targeted Stephens because she was present at the first killing and he feared she would talk. Her body wouldn’t be discovered until three years later, buried near the Muriwai Golf Club.  Gail Maney... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 22:20:45 Z /news/crime/wellington-woman-charged-after-acid-attack-on-man/ /news/crime/wellington-woman-charged-after-acid-attack-on-man/ A 51-year-old woman has been charged after an acid attack on a man in Wellington. Police were called to a Sim St address in Johnsonville at 11.10pm yesterday. “The victim received acid burns to an arm and clothing, and was treated by an ambulance crew at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. The offender then fled the home before emergency services arrived, but was captured shortly after at a Kipling St property about 1.50am. She was taken into custody without incident. The woman, who police said is a local in the area, has been charged with throwing acid with intent to injure and is expected to appear in the Wellington District Court today. Sleepless night after ‘commotion’ A man named George who lives in the adjoining flat said a man and woman had moved in there about a month ago and had fought loudly from the first day. “First day they moved in they were arguing, smashing windows,” George, who has lived there for 15 years. “At least it was on their side and not mine.” He did not hear a fight last night but said he heard a commotion when emergency services arrived. “I heard the cops banging on their door. “There were two hazmat trucks and a couple of other fire engines on the scene. George said he heard his name mentioned through the wall by a police officer and, not realizing it was the police, went outside to yell over the fence: “Oi, who the bloody hell do you want you pricks?” He then discovered “Oh crap it’s a cop.” George said he didn’t manage to get any sleep last night. He said fighting couples are common in the adjoining flats, noting the previous tenants were much the same. Another neighbour across the street did not hear anything happening last night but said he tried to stay away from the house on the corner. He said he often heard people screaming at the house about two or three times a week. A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were called to Kipling St just after 1am to assist police. They sent five fire trucks and four support vehicles to the scene. A police spokesperson said inquiries were ongoing. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:16:46 Z /news/national/beneficiary-who-received-158k-in-bank-transfer-error-could-face-theft-charge-jail-time-legal-expert/ /news/national/beneficiary-who-received-158k-in-bank-transfer-error-could-face-theft-charge-jail-time-legal-expert/ Auckland pensioner Andrew Che Sit Bong mistakenly sent $158,000 to the wrong account.  The recipient allegedly spent the money on cars and transfers, leading to potential theft charges.  Che seeks recovery through potential police and civil action, with support from MPs.  A woman who went on an alleged “spending spree” after mistakenly receiving $158,000 in a bank transfer error has no right to the money and could be prosecuted for theft, a legal expert says.  Retired Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge says while it is not a crime to find someone’s wallet, “if there’s identification, and you take the money out and you throw the wallet away, you’re stealing the money”.  Mt Roskill pensioner Andrew Che Sit Bong, 78, accidentally sent his retirement savings to the wrong account number when transferring money back to New Zealand from a United Kingdom bank.  When entering payment instructions for his own Westpac account in January last year, the retired electrical engineer accidentally missed out one digit - meaning his money landed in the account of an Auckland mother-of-five.  While Westpac was able to recover $28,000, police told Che the woman used the rest of the money to purchase two cars, transfer $60,000 to her boyfriend, and send $20,000 to a relative in Samoa.  Westpac repeatedly contacted the woman in a bid to return the money, telling Che “the wrongful recipient understands the severity of the situation and are aware that the police at some stage may be contacted”.  Hodge said in his view, the woman’s actions indicated she was aware that what she was doing was wrong and he believed she could face criminal charges.  “If you’re innocently possessing someone else’s property, then you’re not a thief. But if you have knowledge that you wrongfully got it, then you meet the criminal standard of knowledge, or what we call ‘mens rea’.  “So the police could be looking at this and she should get a visit.”  Hodge said the so-called “finders keepers” rule was a misnomer and didn’t apply.  “She doesn’t get good title to something that was accidentally put in her account.  Retired Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge says the 'finders keepers' rule does not apply.  “In practice, if you find something you keep it. But the true owner retains title to something that was lost.”  If police were to prosecute the woman, she could face a theft charge and be looking at potential jail time, Hodge said.  The victim could consider civil proceedings in order to confiscate assets purchased with his money. Police could also go after the assets as proceeds of crime.  “If the victim can instruct a solicitor quickly before the assets get further dissipated, they can put freezing orders on any assets and maybe get the bailiff to seize the car.”  However, civil proceedings could be costly, Hodge warned.  “Gee whiz, you’re looking at $10,000 just to get started in the district court.”  Victim missed single digit when entering payment instructions  The account number provided to Westpac had only 15 digits, not the intended 16, so Westpac added a zero to the suffix as per its usual protocols.  Che only realised his error two months later. Westpac immediately froze the woman’s account.  Westpac refused to disclose the woman’s name to Che due to privacy, but eventually gave it to police after being served court production orders.  Che says officers are now preparing to interview the woman and her boyfriend and he hopes she will face criminal charges.  Andrew Che Sit Bong acknowledges making the bank transfer error but believes Westpac is also liable for not cross-checking the recipient name and account. Photo / Michael Craig  “Their happiness is built on my misery.  “I am a pensioner and I am unable to work. I need this money ... through my old age and I am devastated.”  While he acknowledg... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:09:49 Z /news/national/family-carers-take-fight-for-fair-pay-to-supreme-court/ /news/national/family-carers-take-fight-for-fair-pay-to-supreme-court/ Family carers Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys are asking the Supreme Court to recognise their work caring for severely disabled children. The case challenges a Court of Appeal ruling last year that ruled the pair weren’t homeworkers and therefore weren’t eligible for benefits like holiday pay and sick leave. This is the latest in a series of cases by family carers who say the system is unfair. Frustrated family carers who say they are sick of being exploited by the Government are asking the country’s highest court to recognise the work they do in their homes caring for their severely disabled children. A two-day hearing in the Supreme Court, which started today and is being livestreamed, is the culmination of more than a decade of litigation by family carers against the Ministry of Health’s policies. In written submissions, lawyers involved in the case say the issue potentially affects thousands of resident family carers who provide essential support while lacking basic employment protections, such as holiday pay and protection against unfair treatment. Court of Appeal: family carers aren’t homeworkers Last year, the Court of Appeal ruled two parents, Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys, who each care for their severely disabled adult children, were not homeworkers. Therefore, they weren’t entitled to the same protections of an employment relationship as other workers in care homes. Because of this, the court found there was no need to determine the backpay or compensation they were claiming. It’s that decision that’s now being challenged in the Supreme Court. In their written submissions, Fleming’s lawyers saythe heart of the case is whether the Ministry of Health can avoid employment obligations to family carers while relying on them to fulfil the ministry’s legal obligations to care for disabled people. In April last year, the appeal court ruled Fleming was not a homeworker despite caring for her high-needs son Justin, who has physical and intellectual disabilities, because she didn’t engage or sign a contract with the ministry. In 2018, Fleming turned down the ministry’s offer of Funded Family Care (FFC), which allowed a disabled person to employ an eligible family member, arguing she was financially better off receiving a benefit. This morning, Fleming’s lawyer Paul Dale, KC, told the court the ministry’s Disability Support Services (DSS) vision was to ensure disabled people and their families are supported to live the life they choose. As a fulltime family carer, Fleming’s work caring for Justin meant she was providing disability support services and therefore met the policy. Her son couldn’t be left alone, yet the ministry refused to pay her for 40 hours of care a week. Instead, it initially offered to pay her for 15 hours a week, equivalent to just over two hours a day, later increasing that to 22 hours. And that was non-negotiable. “No one has ever sought to explain how two and a quarter hours a day is workable,” Dale said, describing the Crown’s offer as unlawful and unworkable. Also, he said there was no doubt Fleming had been caring for her son for years, something the ministry was aware of because it regularly checked on and assessed her work to ensure she was adequately caring for her son. He said Fleming was more than a volunteer. It was clear someone had to care for Justin and the ministry’s documents reflected that. During this period, the ministry even paid for respite, but not the care she provided. “This was an employment relationship, she is doing the work – she was engaged since 2018 and the Crown has failed in its obligations,” he said. In most centres around the country, residential care, or even respite care, wasn’t available. In Fleming’s case, the only respite care was an hour’s drive from her home, which meant two hours of travelling time for three to five hours of respite care. Humphreys cares for his daughter Sian, who has physical and intellectual disabi... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:54:25 Z /news/world/canada-s-carney-political-newcomer-who-says-he-s-best-in-a-crisis/ /news/world/canada-s-carney-political-newcomer-who-says-he-s-best-in-a-crisis/ Mark Carney, whose Liberal Party won Canada’s election on Monday, has a history of taking on roles at challenging moments. “I’m most useful in a crisis. I’m not that good at peacetime,” he said during the campaign. Carney secured a term as prime minister despite having never served in parliament, which is unprecedented in Canadian history. Even with no government experience, he convinced voters that his background dealing with financial turmoil equipped him to lead Canada through US President Donald Trump’s trade war. A 60-year-old married father of four, Carney was born near the Arctic in Fort Smith, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, but was raised in the western city of Edmonton. Like many Canadians, he played hockey in his youth. He studied at Harvard in the United States and Oxford in England, and made a fortune as an investment banker early in his career at Goldman Sachs, working in New York, London, Tokyo and Toronto. Carney then joined the Canadian civil service, eventually being appointed governor of the Bank of Canada in 2008 by former prime minister Stephen Harper, a conservative. The global financial crisis erupted shortly thereafter, and Carney was among a group of leaders credited with steering Canada through an international meltdown relatively unscathed. In 2013 the United Kingdom’s prime minister, David Cameron, tapped him to head the Bank of England, making Carney the first non-Briton to lead the institution since its founding in 1694. The UK then voted to leave the European Union, and Carney played a key role reassuring markets following the 2016 Brexit vote. When the Canadian announced he was leaving the bank in late 2019, Britain’s then-finance minister, Sajid Javid, said Carney had led “with conviction, rigour and intelligence.” In a recent appearance on a Canadian comedy show, the host -listing the financial crisis, Brexit and Trump’s trade war - joked Carney might be to blame for the economic upheaval that trails him. Laughing, Carney said, “It’s the other way around. I come in to fix these things.” ‘Technocrat’ King Charles meets new Canadian PM Mark Carney at Buckingham Palace. Photo / The Royal Family Reports that Carney had interest in entering Canadian politics have circulated for years. In January, after then-prime minister Justin Trudeau announced his plans to resign, Carney launched a campaign to lead the Liberal Party. Analysts questioned whether a technocrat with no experience in retail politics could energise a party facing dismal polls, as anger towards Trudeau surged after a decade in power. Dalhousie University professor Lori Turnbull has noted Carney “doesn’t have a dynamic communication style”. And yet he went on to win the Liberal Party race, and the general election. Carney had isolated stumbles during the campaign, but experts said his most effective moments were those when he assumed the role of prime minister and assailed Trump in front of a row of Canadian flags. “The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military co-operation is over,” Carney said last month after Trump unveiled his auto tariffs. Touchy subject? After leaving the Bank of England, Carney wrote a book and became a United Nations adviser on climate change and finance. He also returned to the private sector as chairman of Brookfield Asset Management, a major multinational Canadian company. Carney faced tough questions about his private-sector experience, including any role he played in helping Brookfield reduce its Canadian tax burden. He also had tense exchanges with reporters when asked about his personal wealth. Carney was pressed to disclose his assets, including what stocks he held, so voters could judge whether he faced any conflicts as prime minister. He countered that he put all his assets in a blind trust, complying with Canada’s ethics rules. “Look inside yourself,” he said to a reporter who pressed him last month on his... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:41:56 Z /news/national/high-court-hears-whang%C4%81rei-man-allegedly-abused-5-women-over-15-years/ /news/national/high-court-hears-whang%C4%81rei-man-allegedly-abused-5-women-over-15-years/ A woman testified about enduring abuse, including being held underwater, by her ex-boyfriend. The 43-year-old man faces 33 charges, including violent assaults and sexual violations, between 2000 and 2015. The trial, involving five alleged victims, will hear from 17 witnesses over the next three weeks. WARNING: This article discusses allegations of sexual abuse and may be upsetting to some readers. A woman has told a court that as her ex-boyfriend held her head underwater in a bath, she felt a sense of relaxation after allegedly enduring months of abuse at his hands. “It felt like a dream,” she testified, saying her spirit floated above her then 16-year-old body. “That was the day that changed me.” That is just part of the case the Crown has brought against a 43-year-old man on trial in the High Court at Whangārei. The judge-alone trial before Justice Rebecca Edwards involves 33 charges of violent assaults, threats to kill, rapes and sexual violation between 2000 and 2015. The court heard over this time period, the man had relationships with five women, one after the other. One relationship lasted just five months, another resulted in marriage and all of the women had children with him. When one relationship ended, he would enter a new one almost immediately. “The Crown submits you will also hear a repeated theme throughout the relationships he had that when the defendant did not get his way, he would use fear and intimidation to overpower them,” Crown lawyer Geraldine Kelly said. The first complainant was 16 years old when she met the then 18-year-old. She said the relationship quickly turned controlling. The man allegedly demanded sex up to seven times a day, a consistent allegation from all of the women. The following four girlfriends told police they were repeatedly sexually assaulted, with two reporting they became so worn down, they just gave in to the man’s persistent sexual demands. “The defendant knew this and on those occasions he did not, on reasonable grounds, believe she was truly consenting,” Kelly said in the Crown’s opening. Two of those women were distraught when they found out they were pregnant, and he allegedly threatened to kill one of them if she had a termination. Justice Rebecca Edwards is hearing the judge-alone trial in Whangārei. Photo / Mark Mitchell On two occasions, he allegedly forced himself on the complainants weeks after they had given birth. “He raped her and, as a result, her stitches were torn,” Kelly said of the fifth complainant. On Monday, the first complainant, and mother of his firstborn child, gave evidence and said within a week of meeting, he had told her he loved her and they began having sex, sometimes all day. She recounted one night when he became jealous because she had been talking to male friends. He stopped the car, drew a mark on the bonnet, and allegedly told her he would kill her by driving into a pole directly at that spot. “He swerved when he got close to the power pole and I felt panic in my body.” She said throughout the relationship they would regularly drive past the pole and he would continue to threaten to drive into it. “I kept thinking when the day will come he was going to violently do something and take action on his really angry streak,” she said. On one evening, the man allegedly demanded she carry out an assault on a family member with a crowbar. He allegedly urinated in a cup, poured it on her and said if she didn’t do it, he would kill her. When his planned assault didn’t work out, she told the court she ran a bath and just wanted to wash the urine out of her hair. The man allegedly came into the bathroom, placed his hands around her head and held her under the water. “I felt relaxed for once. It felt like a dream. I saw my body lifted up and I looked back, like this, and I could actually see my lifeless body in the bathtub with my purple and blue lips,” she recalled. She said the next thing she recalled was her ex-partne... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:31:24 Z /news/national/rotorua-tyre-slashing-spree-police-investigate-cctv-footage-of-girls/ /news/national/rotorua-tyre-slashing-spree-police-investigate-cctv-footage-of-girls/ CCTV footage shows two girls possibly involved in slashing tyres in central Rotorua. Police are working to identify the pair, with seven complaints filed and more victims suspected. Tourists whose plans were disrupted by flat tyres say they remain positive about returning to Rotorua. Police are investigating CCTV footage suggesting two young girls could be involved in a spate of tyre slashing in central Rotorua. Police have confirmed they are working to identify the pair. The footage supplied to the Rotorua Daily Post and police shows the girls walking on Pukutatua St about 4am on Monday. The rental car belonging to English tourists that had its tyres slashed. Photo / Supplied One girl is carrying what appears to be a large knife and crouches down between cars later found to have slashed tyres. Rotorua area commander Inspector Herby Ngawhika said police were following strong leads to identify the girls. Seventeen complaints had so far been made to police by people who found their tyres slashed overnight on Sunday. Ngawhika said police knew from the Daily Post and comments on social media there were more victims. Some of the slashed tyres in Rotorua's CBD. Photos / Kelly Makiha The Daily Post counted 11 cars with slashed tyres on Pukuatua St, Tutanekai St at the Lakefront and Fenton St near Pukaki St early Monday morning. There were also reports of three more on Hinemoa St and others in the Rotorua Central mall carpark. “We encourage anyone who’s been a victim of this to report it to police, to help us form a fuller and more accurate picture,” Ngawhika said. The owner of the security cameras that captured footage of the girls did not want to be named, but said the pair’s parents obviously didn’t know where their children were at 4am. Targeted tourists remain upbeat British tourists Samantha Evans, 28, and Kara Lumley, 26, told the Daily Post they would return to Rotorua for a proper holiday, despite their time being cut short when their tyres were slashed. Evans said they parked their rental vehicle on Hinemoa St overnight on Sunday while staying in the CBD. The rental car driven by English tourists that had its tyres slashed on Hinemoa St. Photo / Supplied She said she paid for parking from 9am but did not notice three tyres were slashed until they were loading the car to head to tourist attractions at 10am. A car next to theirs had all four tyres slashed, with a third vehicle across the road also hit. She said it took several hours to resolve the issue, including reporting the vandalism to police and spending time on the phone with their rental company and insurance company. They were still not sure if they would be charged. Evans said their insurance covered the car being towed to a nearby tyre store, Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Service, where they met at least six others also waiting to have their tyres replaced. “We were sitting there in the waiting room, and it was a bit comical in a way. They’d walk in and we’d say ‘Slashed tyres?’ and they’d say ‘Yeah’.” Evans said they swapped stories about their tyre woes. Samantha Evans and Kara Lumley played card game Monopoly Deal with other slashed-tyres victims while they waited for their cars to be fixed. Photo / Supplied “We ended up playing cards with some of them while we waited. Everyone was really friendly, including Mohamad [Safraz], the manager, who let me use his phone to make calls.” Evans said they had to cancel their plans for the day to visit tourist attractions, including Skyline Rotorua. “We are only in New Zealand for two weeks and, obviously, wanted to do lots of things in Rotorua. But we are both positive people, and if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.” She said they were sending videos and photos back to their families in Britain. “They were a bit worried about us and asking if we were safe.” English tourist Kara Lumley enjoys a free coffee while she waits for her slashed ty... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:45:51 Z /news/national/juliana-herrera-murder-inquest-probation-officer-says-paroled-rapist-was-aroused-by-violence-and-high-risk-to-women/ /news/national/juliana-herrera-murder-inquest-probation-officer-says-paroled-rapist-was-aroused-by-violence-and-high-risk-to-women/ Paroled rapist Joseph Brider was deemed “high high” risk days before murdering Juliana Bonilla Herrera in Christchurch. Brider’s probation officer had concerns about him reoffending and noted potential risks to women. Coroner Alexandra Cuninghame is holding an inquest into Herrera’s death and Brider’s management. Days before he murdered Juliana Bonilla Herrera in her Christchurch home, paroled rapist Joseph Brider was noted to be “high high” risk by his probation officer. The officer has today revealed that after Brider was released from prison she had “concerns” about him reoffending and noted that “any attractive female moving into the neighbouring flats or next door would be seen as a potential risk”. Herrera, 37, was found dead in her Addington flat in January 2022. She had been murdered by her neighbour, Brider. Brider was a convicted rapist who had been granted parole after previously being refused five times. Juliana Herrera died in January after a man allegedly entered her Christchurch home and attacked her. Photo / Supplied He moved into the unit beside Herrera’s in November 2021 and quickly became obsessed with her. She told friends he made her uncomfortable and she felt like she was “being watched”. Brider broke into her home while she was asleep, physically and sexually assaulting her and stabbing her to death. He was sentenced to life in prison with preventive detention. Both the Parole Board and Corrections have reviewed how Brider was managed. Coroner Alexandra Cuninghame is now holding an inquest into Herrera’s death and whether anything could have been done to stop Brider’s fatal actions, or can be done in future to prevent similar tragedies. Brider’s probation officer was the third witness called. ‘I assessed his risk to females as high’ - probation officer The experienced probation officer has interim name suppression. She told the coroner that she manages a range of offenders subject to a variety of community-based sentences and parole conditions. She was allocated as Brider’s probation officer on October 27, 2021, as she had the experience required to handle his case. Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Photo / Pool She spoke with him on the phone the day before he was released from prison. She had not been able to meet him or schedule a video call because of Covid-19 restrictions and staff availability issues at Christchurch Men’s Prison. When Brider was released, she carried out his parole induction, and he confirmed he was aware of and understood his conditions. She then completed a risk assessment. She noted offences he was “most likely” to commit included “male assaults female, impedes breath, injures with intent to injure, reckless disregard and grievous bodily harm”. The most likely victim would be “a new girlfriend or a male known or not known to him”. The “most serious” offences Brider was likely to commit were “unlawful sexual connection [with a] female over 16; male rapes female, abduction for sex [of a ] female over 16”. Those most at risk were “a new girlfriend, female casual sex hook-ups, a female not known to him or a sex worker”. Seven days after his release, Brider reported to his probation officer for the first time. “I asked him if he had any interaction with any females since being released,” she told the court. “Mr Brider stated he was staying away from females while on parole and denied any contact intimate or sexual. “He also denied downloading any dating apps. “I assessed his risk towards females as high at this contact and indicated any female that enters a relationship with Mr Brider will be a likely victim, or a female that Mr Brider takes a liking to, and this is not reciprocated.” Joseph Brider in court. Photo / Kurt Bayer She asked Brider if he had any interactions with his neighbours. He said they were “all elderly”. “I did not see any of the neighbours at the time of my visit. I noted that there were no risks sighted ... I noted that any attractive female moving into th... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 04:28:41 Z /news/world/carney-s-liberals-win-canada-election-defined-by-trump/ /news/world/carney-s-liberals-win-canada-election-defined-by-trump/ Prime Minister Mark Carney won Canada’s election, leading the Liberal Party to a new term. Carney’s campaign focused on his economic experience and an anti-Trump message. The departure of Justin Trudeau and concerns about Trump were key to the Liberal victory. Prime Minister Mark Carney has won Canada’s election, media projected, leading his Liberal Party to a new term in power after convincing voters his experience managing economic crises prepared him to confront US President Donald Trump. The public broadcaster CBC and CTV News both projected the Liberals would form Canada’s next Government, but it was not yet clear if they would hold a majority in parliament. Trump’s trade war and threats to annexe Canada, which he renewed in an election day social media post, outraged Canadians and made dealing with the United States a top campaign issue. Carney, who had never held elected office and only replaced Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister last month, anchored his campaign on an anti-Trump message. He previously served as central bank governor in both Britain and Canada and persuaded voters his global financial experience had prepared him to guide Canada through a trade war. He promised to expand overseas trading relations to curb Canada’s reliance on the US. Carney’s descriptions of the Trump threat have been stark. Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney leaves a polling station after casting his ballot in the federal election in Ottawa, Canada. Photo / AFP “Donald Trump wants to break us so America can own us,” he said during the campaign. “They want our resources, they want our water, they want our land, they want our country. They can’t have it.” Trudeau’s departure But the departure of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also crucial to the Liberal win, which capped one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Canadian political history. On January 6, the day Trudeau announced he would resign, the Conservatives led the Liberals by more than 20 points in most polls, as voter anger over soaring costs mounted after Trudeau’s decade in power. But Carney replacing Trudeau, combined with nationwide unease about Trump, transformed the race. Carney, 60, distanced himself from Trudeau throughout the campaign. He said Trudeau did not focus enough on growing Canada’s economy and scrapped a controversial Trudeau tax on carbon emissions that left many voters seething. Nearly 29million of Canada’s 41 million people were eligible to vote in the massive G7 country that spans six time zones. A record 7.3 million people cast advanced ballots. Results were still pending on the shape of Canada’s 343 members of parliament, with 172 seats needed for a majority. The Liberals won a majority in 2015 but have governed with a minority since 2019. -Agence France-Presse Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:43:03 Z /news/lower-north-island/tauranga-assault-case-man-pleads-guilty-to-attacks-harmful-posts/ /news/lower-north-island/tauranga-assault-case-man-pleads-guilty-to-attacks-harmful-posts/ A Tauranga man has admitted his role in a series of assaults and posting videos of them online. Patrick Paul Moloney, 19, initially pleaded not guilty to four charges in December. During a case review hearing in Tauranga District Court today, Moloney pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault, two charges of injuring with intent and one charge of posting harmful communication. The assault charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in jail. The digital communication charges carry a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a $50,000 fine. Judge Paul Geoghegan called Moloney’s acts “frankly despicable” and made the seriousness of his crimes clear. Moloney was one of three people arrested following a police investigation into an alleged Tauranga vigilante group targeting people they believed were contacting minors online. The others were Aucklander Ethan Marc Jeffs, and a third person who has interim name suppression. Moloney was released on bail and is due to reappear in court for sentencing on July 29. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:54:38 Z /news/crime/katherine-hughes-jailed-after-christchurch-knife-attack-on-husband-with-parkinson-s/ /news/crime/katherine-hughes-jailed-after-christchurch-knife-attack-on-husband-with-parkinson-s/ Katherine Mary Hughes was sentenced to two years in jail for attempted wounding with intent. Her husband, Christopher Hughes, was attacked with a carving knife during a struggle at their home. A protection order was issued and she was told not to contact the victim. A man with advanced Parkinson’s disease woke to find his wife standing at the end of his bed holding a knife. Katherine Mary Hughes told Christopher Robin Hughes she was going to kill him and then kill herself. A lengthy struggle between the couple, who had been married for five decades, ensued as Katherine tried to stab her husband, whom she had cared for amid his health battles. The encounter spilled from Christopher’s bedroom to the living room of their shared Christchurch home, before culminating with Katherine thrusting the knife into her chest. Christopher received cuts to his hands in the February 1, 2023, struggle, and Katherine spent months recovering in the hospital from the self-inflicted knife wound. Today, the 69-year-old appeared in the High Court at Christchurch for sentencing in relation to the attack. Their daughter, Angela Hughes, watched via audio-visual link from Australia as her mother was sentenced. Angela said, through her victim impact statement read to the court, that Katherine’s offending had torn their family apart. Katherine had since been cut off by her husband, her three children and four grandchildren. Angela said the attack had changed her life, causing her to have regular nightmares and lost sleep due to stress. She had to take time off work and lost her job as a result. She said it took her three months to regain her confidence to find another job. “My husband and children have had to endure my mood changes. This woman was meant to be a loving wife, but instead she did the absolute opposite,” Angela said in her statement. “Will she hunt him down when she is released from prison?” Justice Jonathan Eaton said Christopher was in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease when he awoke in the early evening to find Katherine, his sole caregiver, standing over his bed, shaking, telling him she was going to end it for both of them. She produced the knife and a struggle ensued. Christopher found it difficult to disarm her but he eventually broke free and triggered a St John alarm. Katherine started swinging a stick vacuum cleaner at him while holding the knife before stabbing herself. She narrowly missed her heart and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Justice Eaton said Katherine denied her husband’s account of events and had told police he was mistaken due to his medical condition. Police had found notes in their house, penned by her saying Christopher had never loved her, that she could finish it and that they couldn’t do it anymore. Katherine was initially charged with attempted murder, which she planned to defend at trial. Justice Eaton said he had heard Christopher’s evidence in advance, due to his deteriorating health. But Katherine then pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Justice Eaton said while she had received little support and became isolated over the years, it was clear she was resentful, did not take responsibility for her actions and blamed her husband. “It could have only left enduring pain for him and your family,” the judge said. Crown prosecutor Penny Brown said Christopher was highly vulnerable and entirely dependent on his wife for his care. He should have been safe when he went to bed but Katherine breached that trust, Brown submitted. She said there was an element of premeditation as there was a background of family harm, including prior threats with a knife. Defence lawyer Olivia Jarvis said Katherine had spent significant time in custody since the attack and suggested intensive supervision would be beneficial. Jarvis said her client had not been able to receive treatment while on remand. Justice Eaton said Katherine’s offending... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:37:13 Z /news/business/amazon-launches-first-starlink-rival-internet-satellites/ /news/business/amazon-launches-first-starlink-rival-internet-satellites/ Amazon has launched its first batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites, marking the start of its push to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink. The mission, called Kuiper Atlas 1, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7pm local time aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket that will carry 27 satellites into orbit. A previous attempt was scrubbed earlier this month because of bad weather. Project Kuiper, a subsidiary of the online retail giant founded by Jeff Bezos, is playing catch-up with Starlink – SpaceX’s sprawling network of internet satellites that has reshaped the sector and handed Musk significant geopolitical clout. The US$10 billion ($16.7b) initiative plans to deploy 3200 satellites into low Earth orbit – the region of space up to 1900km above the planet – with hopes of going live later this year. Pricing has not yet been revealed, but Amazon has pledged it will align with its reputation as a low-cost retailer. “Atlas V is on its way to orbit to take those 27 Kuiper satellites, put them on their way, and really start this new era in internet connectivity,” said ULA’s Caleb Weiss. With today’s launch, Amazon formally enters a crowded and fast-growing field that includes not just Starlink but other emerging players in the satellite internet race. SpaceX launched the first batch of Starlink satellites in 2019 and now boasts more than 6750 operational units, serving more than five million customers worldwide – by far the sector’s dominant force. Starlink has also provided crucial internet access in disaster and war zones, including Morocco after its devastating 2023 earthquake and on the frontlines in Ukraine’s war against Russia. Amazon plans to accelerate launches in the coming months and years, with more than 80 flights booked through United Launch Alliance (a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture), France’s Arianespace, Bezos’ own Blue Origin and even Musk’s SpaceX. Its satellites will gradually join the swelling ranks in low Earth orbit, alongside Starlink, Europe’s OneWeb and China’s Guowang constellation. The increasing crowding of this orbital neighbourhood has sparked concerns about congestion, potential collisions and disruptions to astronomical observations. The expanding role of private companies in space has also raised thorny political questions, especially as Musk’s influence stretches beyond business into politics and diplomacy. Musk has sent mixed signals on Starlink’s future role in Ukraine, where it remains vital to Kyiv’s war effort – a conflict that Musk ally US President Donald Trump has vowed to bring to an end. –Agence France-Presse Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:22:48 Z /news/national/andrew-little-says-wellington-mayoralty-still-a-contest-after-tory-whanau-s-exit/ /news/national/andrew-little-says-wellington-mayoralty-still-a-contest-after-tory-whanau-s-exit/ Andrew Little has thanked Tory Whanau for her time as mayor, after she announced she won’t seek re-election. Whanau will run for the Greens in the city’s Māori ward instead to give Little a “clear runway to win the mayoralty”. Little emphasised the need to still campaign hard, acknowledging other candidates like Ray Chung. Andrew Little says he is taking nothing for granted and is committed to fight hard for the Wellington mayoralty, after Tory Whanau announced she wouldn’t be seeking a second term. It marks a U-turn on her previous pledge to run again for the mayoralty at the local body elections in October. Whanau recently received the Green Party endorsement for the mayoralty but will now run for the Greens in the city’s Māori ward. Her decision was partly influenced by former Labour leader Andrew Little announcing his candidacy for the city’s top job. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says she initially put her name forward after seeing no viable candidates for the mayoralty. Photo / Mark Mitchell. “I’ve decided I’d like to step aside to give him a clear runway to win the mayoralty,” Whanau told the Herald in a sit-down interview. Little told the Herald Whanau called him last week while he was at work to tell him the news. “It was a bit of a surprise that she had made the decision to stand down given she had committed just recently to contesting the mayoralty again. But in the end, she’s done what she’s done, that’s her decision,” Little said. “I said to her ‘thanks for letting me know’ but that was really as far as it went.” “I wished her all the best for what she chooses to do next”, he said. He said he wants to thank Whanau for her time as mayor on behalf of Wellingtonians. “She’s had some challenges, she’s got some things done that she wanted to get done, she can be very pleased with it,” he said. Whanau said she initially chose to run again because she “was worried there were no viable candidates” before Little announced his campaign. Despite this, Little said there is still a campaign to run and the election isn’t a done deal. “I take nothing for granted and there are people like Ray Chung, there’s people like Graham Bloxham as well. “I feel that I am the right person and I do have the right skills, but equally, I know that Ray intends to put up a fierce campaign so I will match that and the campaign will continue. “There is still a contest to be had,” Little said. Last night Wellington’s local Labour Party branch officially supported Little’s bid for the mayoralty. He said he’s “very pleased” to have the party’s support, saying there’s no doubt he’s “fully aligned” with the party. “I’ve been a union leader, I’ve been the president of the party, I’ve been the leader of the party, I’ve been a minister, I’ve been an MP - no one is going to think that my values are anything other than fully aligned to Labour.” City councillor and mayoral hopeful Ray Chung told the Herald he wasn’t surprised by Whanau’s announcement this morning, and suspected Whanau may quit the race after a discussion he had with her at the weekend’s Anzac commemorations. “I knew that something was going to happen, they were all thinking about what to do,” Chung said. “I’m actually more buoyed now.” Current city councillor and mayoral candidate Ray Chung says he suspected Whanau would quit the mayoral race, and thinks he will win come October. Photo / Mark Mitchell. “She would have found it very very difficult” to win the mayoralty against Little if she stayed in the race, he said. Even with Whanau bowing out, he doesn’t believe Little can win. “I think I’m going to win, I think we’re going to win, I think the Independent Together party is going to win.” Independent Together, a campaign group headed by Chung, is running 11 candidates in the upcoming local body elections on a shared policy platform of cutting wasteful spending and not incre... Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:20:36 Z /news/world/ecuador-footballer-s-wife-and-child-rescued-after-he-hid-during-kidnap/ /news/world/ecuador-footballer-s-wife-and-child-rescued-after-he-hid-during-kidnap/ A footballer in Ecuador has been reunited with his wife and child after they were kidnapped from the family home while he hid under the bed. Jackson Rodriguez, who plays for the Emelec club, was at home in the coastal city of Guayaqui last Wednesday when the kidnappers struck at 3am, the Associated Press reported. Police chief Edison Rodriguez said the pro footballer told police that he hid under a bed when he heard the door being broken down. The kidnappers asked his wife where he was, then snatched her and the couple’s 5-year-old son after ransacking the home and stealing valuables. Rodriguez made a plea for his family’s freedom and his prayers were answered when armed police later rescued his wife and child from a derelict building. Video shared on social media by police showed the dramatic rescue, with the police saying the kidnappers were seeking a large ransom for the pair. Local media are reporting that the police are now providing protection for the family. The kidnapping came as multiple areas of Ecuador were put under a state of emergency to battle organised crime groups that authorities blame for escalating violence in the South American nation. Kidnapping is not unusual in Ecuador. In December 2024, another pro footballer, Pedro Perlaza, was kidnapped before being released alive. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:07:57 Z /news/national/weather-severe-thunder-rain-for-top-of-north-island-as-winter-blast-hits-south/ /news/national/weather-severe-thunder-rain-for-top-of-north-island-as-winter-blast-hits-south/ Thunderstorms and downpours are hitting the top of the North Island and heading for Auckland, while the other end of the country is preparing for plunging temperatures and a dumping of snow. “Some areas may see periods of intense rainfall. Northland has already had a very wet month, and with soils already quite saturated, any further heavy rain could lead to impacts being felt more readily,” MetService said. The top of the North Island has a forecast of 14 hours of lightning and intense rainfall until midnight tonight. The storm is then due to move to Gibsorne, which has a forecast of 12 hours of heavy rain until midday tomorrow. Marlborough and Wellington are tipped to get 30 hours of high winds and heavy rain from midnight tonight. Heavy swell warnings near the Cook Strait from Wairarapa to Wellington have already prompted ferry operator Bluebridge to prepare customers for potential delays or cancellations. Meanwhile, heavy snow is expected in the Canterbury high country, where snowfall could hit warning criteria, from 6pm Wednesday to 10am Thursday. MetService has issued road snowfall warnings for Porters Pass and Arthur’s Pass (State Highway 73) for Wednesday night. Heavy rain warnings have also been issued for Banks Peninsula, North Canterbury to Hamner, and the Kaikoura coast and ranges, until 6am Friday. Mid-Canterbury also has a heavy rain watch. The West Coast will also fall under a strong wind watch until 3pm Thursday. Flooding, slips possible, warns MetService Northland is under a heavy rain and severe thunderstorm watch, with MetService warning it could cause surface flooding, slips, and fast-rising rivers. Gisborne is expected to see as much as 25mm of rain an hour on Wednesday morning, with MetService saying the orange warning in place could be upgraded. A strong wind watch for Marlborough and Wellington, along with a strong rain watch for the capital, had the potential to down trees and powerlines and lift unsecured property. MetService said motorcyclists and motorists, especially those in high-sided vehicles, should take extra care. 7m waves near Cook Strait Ferry operator Bluebridge said conditions on Cook Strait were expected to deteriorate on Wednesday morning. “If the large swells do eventuate, this may result in the delay or cancellation of services on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.” MetService said waves could reach as high as 7m on Thursday afternoon. Daily highs to drop to single digits Daily high temperatures are expected to drop to single digits in southern parts of the country as the Canterbury high country sits under a heavy snow watch. Queenstown was expected to dip from 17C today to 8C on Thursday. Christchurch will drop to 10C on Thursday. Auckland, meanwhile, does not have a forecast high temperature below 18C for the next week. Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:05:32 Z /news/national/te-ahu-a-turanga-manawat%C5%AB-tararua-to-be-open-to-traffic-from-june/ /news/national/te-ahu-a-turanga-manawat%C5%AB-tararua-to-be-open-to-traffic-from-june/ Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop, confirmed the Manawatū Tararua Highway will be open to traffic from June 2025. The confirmation came on Tuesday with the understanding that the construction teams still have some work to do before the road can officially open. Bishop said this included laying the final stages of asphalt, installing barriers, line marking and, crucially, connecting the new road to the surrounding roading network. “I’m looking forward to the road being open, and I know local communities are too.” The expected cost to complete the project now stands at $824.1 million for the safe and reliable link. “Travel times will be greatly improved for both light and heavy vehicles using the new road.” Bishop said general traffic would take between 10 to 12 minutes to drive the road, which was a significant improvement on the current 20 to 25 minute detour route in place. “The new road will be safer and more resilient than the road it’s replacing,” Bishop said. The new highway between Ashhurst and Woodville would replace State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge, which was permanently closed in April 2017 due to landslides. “This highway will reconnect the communities severely affected by the closure of the old road. Woodville and Ashhurst have been impacted by the closure, and I would like to acknowledge their patience and their support for the project since its inception.” Bishop described the corridor as an important freight link between Hawke’s Bay-Wairarapa and the Manawatu-Whanganui regions. “Having an efficient, four-lane highway, divided by a median barrier through this transport corridor, will boost economic growth for this part of the country and the rest of the North Island.” Tararua District Councillor and mayoral hopeful Scott Gilmore described the highway as an “engineering marvel” when he and fellow councillors drove the road at the beginning of April. He had watched the highway construction both up close and from afar and was looking forward to the road being opened for motorists. “Literally, when I walk to my mailbox, I can see the road forming, and it sort of looks from a distance that it is almost done and ready to be opened.” Scott Gilmore described the road as an engineering marvel. He said they had been lucky enough to travel the highway as work progressed, but up until the start of April, it had looked and felt like a construction site. He described the tarmac as thick and said considerations had gone into the durability of the surface to ensure minimal damage. “It is peaceful because it is sealed and it’s quiet.” Gilmore said a sense of excitement was building in the community despite a temporary setback with a road toll proposal that was scrapped after the district’s opposition and the mayor’s refusal to take back the maintenance of three detour routes if the region’s replacement state highway was tolled. Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:52:11 Z /news/sport/super-rugby-pacific-blues-winger-mark-tele-a-hit-with-three-week-suspension/ /news/sport/super-rugby-pacific-blues-winger-mark-tele-a-hit-with-three-week-suspension/ Mark Tele’a will miss three weeks of Super Rugby following his dangerous tackle in the Blues’ loss to the Reds. The All Blacks winger, who is departing after this season on a three-year deal with Japanese club Toyota, has been suspended for three weeks for the lifting tackle on opposite Tim Ryan. Tele’a will miss his side’s games against the Western Force this Friday, the visit to Suva to face the Fijian Drua on May 9 and the Moana Pasifika rematch on May 17. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:49:01 Z /news/world/four-dead-including-children-after-vehicle-crashes-into-us-child-centre/ /news/world/four-dead-including-children-after-vehicle-crashes-into-us-child-centre/ Four people aged 4 to 18 were killed when a vehicle ploughed into a building housing an after-school camp in the US state of Illinois, police said, adding they were investigating the crash. Several others were injured and transported to hospital, Illinois State Police said in a statement, while the driver of the vehicle was uninjured and taken to hospital for evaluation. “At this time, we can confirm four fatalities believed to be between the ages of 4-18 years. Three individuals were struck outside the building and one inside,” the statement read. “Several additional individuals have been transferred to local area hospitals by ambulance and one by a life flight helicopter.” Police responded to the crash in Chatham, a small town around 16km south of state capital Springfield, at around 3.20pm on Monday. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker shared a statement on X saying he was “horrified and deeply saddened” by the incident. “Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time. My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing – something that no parent should have to endure,” he wrote. The after-school centre, YNOT After School Camp, says on its website that it specialises in providing outdoor activities for children. – Agence France-Presse Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:40:13 Z /news/national/northland-braces-for-heavy-rain-and-thunderstorms-flooding-risk-high/ /news/national/northland-braces-for-heavy-rain-and-thunderstorms-flooding-risk-high/ Severe thunderstorms have struck the Far North and are headed southwest, MetService says. The weather forecaster detected a line of severe thunderstorms near Kaitāia. The storms are moving southwest and are expected near Herekino at 3pm then Coopers Beach in Doubtless Bay about half an hour later. “These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.” MetService urged people to take shelter, stay off the water, move cars away from trees, drive slowly or avoid travelling. A thunderstorm watch remains in place for Northland. MetService reported lightning strikes off the region’s east coast, saying they could make landfall. Northland has been drenched in heavy rain today. Downpours are expected to last until midnight. Meteorologist Oscar Shiviti said a slow-moving front meant a large accumulation of rainfall would bring localised downpours of between 25 and 40mm an hour. “A lot of places are at risk of flooding.” State Highway 1 at Te Paki, Cape Rēinga, was closed because of flooding. NZ Transport Agency has urged motorists to delay their journey as no detour is available. Cape Rēinga received 70mm of rain between midnight and 2pm today. MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said April had been a wet month for Northland’s most northern location. “The average rainfall was usually 60mm but this month alone it has accumulated 408mm.” Lynden said Kaikohe was also sodden with 45mm of rain and Dargaville, 21.6mm. Kaipara District Council’s Ash Nayyar said there was some concern around flooding in the Dargaville township and areas like Awakino Point. In a video he posted to social media, water could be seen endangering parked cars near the township. Nayyar told the Advocate it was not unusual during high tide for flooding to occur, but additional heavy rain was a concern. Some businesses, such as Kawakawa Pharmacy, were concerned about flooding. The pharmacy wrote on Facebook: “If the water level reaches the pipe, past experience tells us we don’t have long before we are flooded in. “Please ensure you have a supply of any essential medications, and check that your kaumātua/kuia are covered.” The Waiomio Valley is cut off to all cars except for 4x4 vehicles after recent heavy rain. Photo / Roddy Pihema. Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board member Roddy HapatiPihema said the Waiomio Valley was cut off for all cars except four-wheel drives. The Kawakawa catchment, where the Waiharakeke River, Otiria and Waiomio streams meet, was swollen from rain. Pihema said most communities had resources as part of their Civil Defence response if needed. The Kawakawa catchment where the Waiharakeke River, Otiria Stream and Waiomio Streams meet is swollen from recent downpours. Photo / Roddy Pihema Civil Defence Northland yesterday said the forecast was “certainly not what we were wishing for”. “With this heavy rain coming on top of the recent heavy rain, streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and road closures are also possible, and driving conditions may be hazardous.” A slip on the recently opened Mangamuka Gorge closed State Highway 1 on Sunday. The road reopened yesterday. Flooding on Sunday reportedly saw vehicles towed and houses flooded in Pāmapūria. MetService earlier said April had been a wet month for Kerikeri. The Bay of Islands town has received 490mm of rainfall in April and 790mm this year alone. The normal rainfall amount for the area in April was about 150mm. This month had been Kerikeri’s wettest April since records began in 1978, RNZ reported. The previous record, about 60mm lower, was set in 1999. Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:00:55 Z /news/lower-north-island/two-vehicle-crash-near-taup%C5%8D-causes-delays-serious-injuries-reported/ /news/lower-north-island/two-vehicle-crash-near-taup%C5%8D-causes-delays-serious-injuries-reported/ Emergency services are at a serious two-vehicle crash near Taupō. Police said the crash on Western Bay Rd, State Highway 32 was reported shortly before midday. It has blocked the road at Waihaha on the western side of Lake Taupō. Police said there are serious injuries and a helicopter has been sent to the scene. A diversion is expected at WhangamataRd but motorists are asked to expect delays. More to come. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:56:31 Z /news/national/more-than-half-of-kiwis-worry-about-money-weekly-as-financial-pressures-remain/ /news/national/more-than-half-of-kiwis-worry-about-money-weekly-as-financial-pressures-remain/ A new survey shows 55% of New Zealanders worry about money either daily or weekly. Those “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the overall economy rose to 51%. Only 44% of New Zealanders said they feel financially prepared for retirement. More than half of New Zealanders worry about money weekly amid persistent financial pressures, according to a new survey. The Financial Services Council’s (FSC) latest Financial Resilience Index found 55% of New Zealanders – equivalent to just over two million people – worry about money either daily or weekly. Despite concerns around inflation, house prices and interest rates easing slightly compared with last year, 83% remain “very” or “somewhat” concerned about inflation. Meanwhile, the number of people feeling “very” or “somewhat” unconfident with the overall economy rose to 51%, up from 49% in 2024. “These results show that while there’s potential for optimism, many households are still feeling the pinch,” said FSC chief executive Kirk Hope. “The data reflects that financial pressure hasn’t disappeared.” Financial issues also had an impact on the wellbeing of those surveyed, with 59% reporting their mental health had been affected. Younger generations remain the groups that worry about money more regularly, with 35% of Gen Z worrying about it daily compared with Gen Y (30%), Gen X (31%), and Baby Boomers (16%). Job security dropped, with 80% reportedly feeling either completely, very or reasonably secure in their current employment, down from 85% in 2024. “Job security remains high but there is a small downward trend,” the report said. Only 44% of New Zealanders said they feel financially prepared for retirement, down 6% from last year. “At present, fewer than half of Kiwis feel financially prepared for retirement – a phase of life that should be defined by security and peace of mind,” Hope said. KiwiSaver remains the top investment New Zealanders have, with 81% of Kiwis enrolled – more than double the 40% who hold cash investments like term deposits. “With KiwiSaver being the primary investment vehicle for most New Zealanders, it’s essential that we re-examine settings around contributions and enrolment,” Hope said. “Ensuring people can maximise the benefits of KiwiSaver is critical not just for their retirement, but for the long-term financial wellbeing of the country.” A recent BNZ Voice survey found squeezed households were resorting to high-interest credit fixes to juggle back-to-school and work costs. More than a third (37%) said they were turning to high-interest lending such as buy now, pay later services and credit cards to cover costs. The biggest start-of-year expenses were stationery (53%), transport (42%), school and work uniforms (42%) and technology-related costs (40%). Meanwhile, financial hardships in February were 16% higher year on year compared with a year ago, according to Centrix data. Cameron Smith is an Auckland-based journalist with the Herald business team. He joined the Herald in 2015 and has covered business and sports. He reports on topics such as retail, small business, the workplace and macroeconomics. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:41:12 Z /news/national/police-probe-after-visitor-found-lying-in-queenstown-street-with-serious-head-injuries/ /news/national/police-probe-after-visitor-found-lying-in-queenstown-street-with-serious-head-injuries/ Police are investigating after a man was found lying on a Queenstown street with serious head injuries in the early hours of this morning. The 33-year-old overseas national has been taken to Queenstown Lakes Hospital in a critical condition after he was found in Turner St at around 6am. “Police are making urgent enquiries to determine how the man came to be injured,” a police statement said. “It appears he was in the vicinity of Turner Street and Hallenstein Streets, Queenstown from about 2am, and police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time who may have information to assist the investigation.” Anyone with information should call police on 105 and quote file number 250429/8686. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:39:03 Z /news/national/jarrod-kingi-missing-after-leaving-whangamata-address-police-appeal-for-information/ /news/national/jarrod-kingi-missing-after-leaving-whangamata-address-police-appeal-for-information/ Police are appealing for help finding missing man Jarrod Kingi. Sergeant Will Hamilton said the 44-year-old was last seen about 11.15pm on April 25, when he left an address on Tobie Place in Whangamata. “He was reported missing to police yesterday, and we have a number of inquiries under way. “We are keen to hear from anyone who has seen Jarrod or has any information which might help us find him,” Hamilton said “His family are very worried about him and want to know he is safe.” Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 105 quoting file number 250428/6425. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:33:56 Z /news/national/12-year-old-missing-boy-contacts-family-says-he-s-safe/ /news/national/12-year-old-missing-boy-contacts-family-says-he-s-safe/ Twelve-year-old William Walmsley, missing since Saturday, has contacted a friend saying he’s safe. William met other runaway kids in Wellington and is staying with one of their families. Police are investigating and urging anyone with information to come forward. By Rayssa Almeida, RNZ Twelve-year-old William Walmsley, who has been missing since Saturday night, made brief contact with a friend, giving his worried family a small sign of hope. His father, Andrew Walmsley, told RNZ that a friend had received a text from William a few hours ago, saying, “I’m at a friend’s house and I’m OK”. Soon after, William made a short phone call. He said he had met other runaway kids in Wellington’s CBD and was now staying with one of their families. “He’d also rung them, and it was a very brief conversation. Essentially, he said he met some other kids that had run away in the Wellington CBD and he’d gone back to one of the family members’ houses. We weren’t really sure what that meant. “That was all pretty recent. It had been a really awful situation.” Walmsley said it sounded like three kids had been involved and that one of them had organised the idea of running away after an argument. “We’d been unaware of that until quite recently. He’d been in town with the same friends on Saturday for a little bit. He hadn’t come home when he was supposed to, so we’d started trying to get in touch with him. He wasn’t really communicating, not answering his phone.” Unusual behaviour Walmsley said it seemed William had blocked their numbers. “If we rang his number, it just seemed to go straight to voicemail. He wasn’t responding to any messages. If I used messaging apps like WhatsApp, I could see the messages weren’t being seen or received either.” He said this behaviour was unusual for his son. “It was really hard to guess what might have been going through his head. This sort of behaviour was largely out of character. My assumption was that it had gone on a little too long and he was just really worried about how much trouble he was going to be in. But I just didn’t know. “It was more likely he’d either made friends with someone or met someone he knew, which made me think someone in Wellington would know where he was. He’d been at someone’s house, or someone had seen him.” Walmsley said there had been no big issues before William went missing. “He was a pretty impulsive kid and certainly no angel, he gave us more than his fair share of trouble at school and things. But nothing like this. We were worried.” Walmsley said his son was tall and lanky and could easily have been mistaken for a 14- or 15-year-old. He was last seen wearing a red hoodie, black trackpants and green Crocs. Police had followed up on all possible sightings and were asking anyone with information to come forward. – RNZ Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:23:24 Z