Auckland Council reaches settlement with controversial cafe owner Dilip Rupa over $900,000 unpaid rates bill

A makeshift memorial has been established at a Meadowbank bus stop in Auckland where 33-year-old PhD student Kyle Whorrall was fatally attacked. Whorrall, who was studying at the University of Auckland and Landcare Research, was assaulted by two individuals from a black SUV while waiting at the bus shelter. In tribute, fellow students plan to name a new insect species after him, as mourners gather at the site, leaving flowers and lighting to honor his...

The Government has revealed the preferred route for the Northland Expressway, anticipated to be one of New Zealand's costliest infrastructure projects, opting for a new highway over the Brynderwyn Hills instead of a bypass. Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced that the route will extend from Warkworth, east of State Highway 1, traversing the Brynderwyn Hills and continuing to Whangārei. The first section of the expressway has already been confirmed, following investigations by the NZ Transport...

An artwork was damaged during The Curious Ball at Auckland Art Gallery, resulting in a criminal charge against a 29-year-old woman for wilful damage. The damaged piece, a hanging sculpture by Olafur Eliasson, is currently being repaired and has sustained no lasting damage. The event featured exclusive after-hours access to Eliasson's exhibition, where guests enjoyed alcohol while viewing his art, which is valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Full Article

Zacharius Rakena faced up to seven years in prison due to dangerous encounters with a theft victim and police following a car theft incident on February 19 last year. Despite his lengthy criminal history, his lawyer proposed a new approach to sentencing, emphasizing Rakena's rehabilitation efforts through the Grace Foundation. Judge Yelena Yelavich acknowledged these efforts, noting that Rakena had previously been incarcerated multiple times without significant change, highlighting the importance of addressing his rehabilitation....

Pope Francis, aged 88, passed away on Monday at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, prompting tributes from world leaders, including Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will attend his funeral. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10am local time in front of St Peter’s Basilica, after which his coffin will be transported to Rome’s Santa Maria Maggiore basilica for burial, marking the first time in over a century that a pope will be laid...

A coronial inquest has resumed in Christchurch regarding Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore's suspected suicide on August 9, 2021, following the Tokyo Olympics. The inquiry has revealed misconduct at Cycling NZ, including pressure on Podmore to lie during a 2018 investigation, with a 2022 report by Mike Heron highlighting cultural deficiencies within the organization. During the inquest, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Erik Monasterio was called as a witness and faced criticism for emphasizing the negative impacts of...