$10m carryover seen as ‘progress’ for Ashburton council

SummaryThree men accused of gang-raping a German backpacker after picking her up from Auckland’s Karangahape Rd on New Year’s Day have been granted interim name suppression by Judge Kevin Glubb. The men, charged with sexual violation, appeared in the Auckland District Court on January 23 and were granted bail, with arguments regarding name suppression scheduled for June. The Crown opposed the continuation of name suppression, and two of the defendants wore face masks during the...

A doctor, whose name is currently suppressed, faces allegations of inappropriate conduct by engaging in sexual acts with his submissive partner at his workplace, violating medical professionalism. An expert testified that the doctor's behavior constituted "blackmail" for threatening to reveal images if his partner did not comply with his demands. The doctor's lawyer challenged the expert's independence during the Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal hearing, disputing the validity of the claims against the doctor. Full Article

Prowash employee Joshua Bowles, who had been on the job for only two months without proper safety training on harness use, fell 6 meters from a roof while cleaning with his boss. The 37-year-old father of five sustained a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures, leading to a six-month hospital stay during which he missed important family milestones and felt immense guilt for the burden placed on his family. In a statement read on his...

There is a 10% chance of a volcanic eruption in Auckland within the next 50 years, potentially causing $65 billion in building damage. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has outlined priorities for new legislation, focusing on enhancing cooperation with Māori and incorporating Māori representation in emergency management, alongside the use of electronic signatures for declarations. A discussion document is open for consultation until May 13, aimed at strengthening emergency management powers based on lessons learned...

The New Zealand Government claims to have exceeded its target of reducing violent crime victims by 20,000 by 2029, reporting 157,000 victims for the year ending February. This information is based on topline results from the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey, which has yet to release its official report. While acknowledging the volatility of the data, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith noted the baseline figure for October 2023 was 185,000, suggesting progress has been made....

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is advocating for enhanced international free trade in response to tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration, emphasizing the potential disruptive second-round effects on global growth for New Zealand. In contrast, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has criticized Luxon's efforts as "premature" while voicing his concerns during a recent tour of the Pacific, signaling discontent within the coalition. This tension highlights the differing approaches to navigating the challenges posed by the evolving...