Another accolade for Lydia Ko

A 19-year-old Tauranga man, Patrick Paul Moloney, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to a series of assaults and the online posting of videos documenting these incidents. Initially entering a not guilty plea in December, he now faces one charge of common assault, two charges of injuring with intent, and one charge of posting harmful communication during a recent hearing at Tauranga District Court. The assault charges could result in a maximum of three...

A new collision sport, set to debut in New Zealand next month via the Runit Championship League, has raised significant safety concerns due to its high risk of head injuries. This sport, which involves two players running at each other full speed in a manner reminiscent of rugby league and AFL, has been condemned by a leading neuroscientist after footage surfaced of a participant being knocked unconscious and experiencing a seizure during an Australian event....

A trip to Vietnam in March marked Rebecca Ronald’s recovery and renewed zest for life after a challenging year battling breast cancer. She faced multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and numerous medical appointments, feeling at times as if she would never return to normalcy. Despite the hardships, including losing her ability to enjoy her comfort drink, tea, due to altered taste, support from family and a work-from-home job helped her navigate this difficult journey. Full Article

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has decided not to seek a second term and will instead run for the Greens in the city’s Māori ward, a shift from her previous intention to serve three terms. Her change of heart was influenced by the commencement of the Golden Mile project and the entry of former Labour leader Andrew Little into the mayoral race. Whanau aims to focus on collaborating with mana whenua and advocating for her beliefs...

A new shingles vaccine may help prevent cognitive decline, with a study from Stanford University indicating that vaccination in mid to later life could reduce new dementia cases by one in five over seven years. The research, published in the journal Nature, has sparked interest, leading Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer to seek funding for a clinical trial to further investigate the vaccine's protective effects on brain health. Alongside the shingles vaccine, statins and weight loss drugs...

A father of three, Luke Daniel Rivers, has admitted to 29 charges related to a significant wage subsidy fraud and money laundering scheme, utilizing a fake passport. In June 2023, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) accused him of defrauding taxpayers of nearly $1 million and attempting to claim an additional $738,000 in Covid wage subsidies. The Auckland District Court revealed that the total value of Rivers' fraudulent activities amounted to approximately $982,000. Full Article