28,000 banned heaters still in New Zealand homes pose ‘significant risk to lives and property’

Pamela Rasmussen, a 40-year-old mother of six, died unexpectedly in Auckland Hospital's Emergency Department on May 13, 2025, after being diagnosed with tonsillitis and making multiple hospital visits. Her family is seeking answers regarding her care, and the case has been referred to the coroner, with Health New Zealand stating they cannot comment while the investigation is ongoing. More Context

TV3 staff are facing renewed uncertainty as parent company Warner Bros Discovery plans a major restructuring to enhance financial performance, splitting into "streaming and studios" and "global networks." Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby and Sky are nearing a deal for rugby rights, Shorty St is again seeking support, and Kiwi PR agencies are achieving significant success internationally. More Context

A young mother endured sexual violation by her brother-in-law almost weekly for four years, facing disbelief from her family when reporting the abuse. However, a judge believed her, leading to her abuser beginning a lengthy prison sentence before his deportation, as she expressed in a victim impact statement, "I will never forgive you. I will never forget the times you traumatised me." More Context

A London-bound Air India flight crashed into a residential area shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 PM local time. The aircraft, carrying 242 people including crew, issued a MAYDAY call to air traffic control before losing contact and falling outside the airport perimeter. More Context

A dramatic dash cam video captured an orange ute driving recklessly on the wrong side of the road, colliding with a white car on State Highway 1 in Wellington. Witness Luke Drabble recounted that the ute appeared to come down from National Storage, while the white car was heading up from the city, resulting in a significant spin of the latter vehicle upon impact. More Context

Aucklanders should prepare for fierce thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail as they face a chilly weekend ahead, with MetService warning of potential electrical storms in the early morning. Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane indicated that the risk of lightning will decrease later in the day, but the pre-dawn period may be particularly active. More Context