Whangārei Court hears 33 charges of sexual and physical abuse from five women

One person has died and three others were injured in a serious crash on State Highway 23 near Whatawhata, Hamilton, after a car collided with a tree around 9:10 am. Among the injured, two individuals sustained serious injuries while one suffered a minor injury, as confirmed by police. Want More Context? 🔎

Killer Beez president Joshua James Masters, 48, faces potential prison time after admitting to reckless driving with two children on his unroadworthy quad bike on State Highway 1. Stopped by police in December 2023, he was found with the children, aged 10 and 12, on the bike without proper safety equipment, leading to his arrest instead of a citation. Want More Context? 🔎

A single ticket from Christchurch in the South Island has won the $20 million Powerball draw, totaling $20,250,000. The winning numbers were 19, 21, 11, 35, 6, and 33, with a bonus ball of 27 and Powerball of 3; the ticket was sold on MyLotto and includes a quarter share of First Division winnings. Want More Context? 🔎

Sherwin Ampaguey Tumapang, a manager at Bunnings Warehouse's Bell Block Trade Centre in Taranaki, embezzled over $38,000 from his employer by processing numerous fake refunds over eight months to support his gambling addiction. He stole a total of $38,639.85 between April and November of the previous year, as detailed in a police report. Want More Context? 🔎

Multiple female lawyers have accused former senior partner James Gardner-Hopkins of using social media to intimidate them after he was suspended for drunkenly groping interns at a Christmas party. His inappropriate conduct, revealed in 2022, inadvertently made him a prominent figure in New Zealand’s #MeToo movement, yet he has since sought a Practising Approval Certificate to return to the legal profession. Want More Context? 🔎

A suspicious fire at Tairua Police Station on the Coromandel Peninsula destroyed a garage and a police car early this morning, causing minimal damage to the station itself. Emergency services responded at 5:20 AM; fortunately, no injuries were reported, and authorities are treating the incident as suspicious, according to Inspector Mike Henwood. Want More Context? 🔎