Ben Morgan: The media, information war and how the campaign could change

A carved tewhatewha was presented to Kaea Karauria's parents after his tragic death in Napier, where he was fatally stabbed during a fight at an 18th birthday party. Kaea's teammates honored him at the Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Rugby League tournament in Rotorua, where the tewhatewha was initially meant to be a birthday gift for him. The police are investigating Kaea's death, urging witnesses to come forward with truthful information, as no charges have been...

Warning: This story covers topics including online child exploitation and attempted suicide that may be upsetting to some readers. A man's suicide attempt led to the revelation of his addiction to child exploitation material, prompting a police investigation that uncovered thousands of objectionable items on his computer. Nicolas Shaun Miller confessed to having a "serious addiction" to what he described as "child porn," but a judge characterized his quick confession as a cry for help...

Russian and Ukrainian officials are set to meet in Istanbul to discuss plans for ending the ongoing war, following Ukraine's recent successful strike on Russian strategic bombers. This marks the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv since early in the invasion, prompted by US President Donald Trump, though significant progress remains elusive. The talks, taking place at the Ciragan Palace, follow an initial round that resulted in a prisoner exchange agreement and discussions on...

A youth worker named Ioana Hill, who was initially awarded nearly $30,000 for unfair dismissal after pushing a teenager who used a derogatory term, has lost her case on appeal. The Employment Court ruled that her dismissal was justified, stating that she used excessive force and therefore should receive no compensation. Hill worked at the Oranga Tamariki youth residence, Korowai Manaaki, in South Auckland from 2017 to 2021, and the incident occurred in March 2021...

SummaryJohn Schofield, a 74-year-old man, was rescued after being knocked out by unexpected waves while fishing at Ōtaki Beach. A nearby woman and a kite surfer found him face-down in the water and assisted in his rescue. Schofield was flown to the hospital in serious condition but is now recovering at home, although he remains quite tired and zoned-out, according to one of his daughters. Full Article

Auckland FC had an impressive debut season as an expansion club in Australasian sport, marked by pivotal moments on and off the field. American billionaire Bill Foley entered the A-League licence race late but secured ownership after a rival consortium faltered, bringing with him high standards and valuable connections, including those to AFC Bournemouth. Additionally, the Warriors revitalized Mt Smart Stadium, creating a popular venue that positively influenced local perceptions, setting the stage for Auckland...