Car fire on Auckland Southern Motorway, traffic snarled as smoke billows across lanes

An aeroplane-obsessed Kiwi teen, Emily Ronberg, 17, filmed the dramatic moment when an Air New Zealand flight, NZ993, had to abort its take-off in Apia while returning from Samoa with her family. The incident occurred as they prepared for their flight to Auckland, capturing the family's unexpected adventure. Want More Context? 🔎

A mother of four, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, is facing sentencing for multiple thefts linked to her claimed kleptomania, which has led to her children being taken from her. Judge Deidre Orchard noted that the woman, in her 20s, has continuously offended since 2019, with recent charges involving over $3000 in goods. Want More Context? 🔎

Specialist fire investigators are examining a fire at a Marlborough property linked to an unsolved homicide investigation involving the disappearance of Jessica Boyce. Approximately 50 vehicles and rubbish were destroyed in the fire, which occurred at a site previously searched by police in connection with her case. Want More Context? 🔎

New Zealand foreign affairs officials are in contact with their Israeli counterparts regarding three New Zealanders on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which has been intercepted by the Israeli Navy. One of the individuals, Samuel Leason, claimed via social media that he was "kidnapped" by Israeli forces, prompting New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stress the importance of their safety and adherence to international law. Want More Context? 🔎

A large house fire in East Auckland's Bucklands Beach has left two people unaccounted for after a blaze severely damaged a two-storey home early this morning. Emergency services responded around 2:30 AM, with police urgently searching for the missing individuals. Want More Context? 🔎

The Wellington City Council's internal documents, spanning the late 1980s to early 2000s, reveal serious allegations of sexual harassment and abusive behavior by councillors, including lewd remarks and dismissive attitudes towards women's issues. Over 2,000 pages of sensitive material were inadvertently released to the public, shedding light on this troubling history. Want More Context? 🔎