Covid-19 Royal Commission releases first report – what you need to know

A German tourist was stabbed twice by Kenneth Michael Green, who became enraged after losing his car keys while drinking together in a car. Judge Gene Tomlinson noted that Green had consumed a significant amount of alcohol, including a 40-ounce gin and tonic and a bottle of wine, leading him to mistakenly believe the victim had taken his keys. Green, 49, was sentenced in the Whangārei District Court for wounding with intent, stemming from the...

A hydroponics retailer, Home Grown Kiwi, owned by Tayte Cozens and Nadine Eales, is pursuing legal action against Reddit in the District Court after the platform refused to remove user comments they claim threaten their family and harm their business. The couple suspects that a disgruntled customer or competitor has posted false reviews and negative information about them, which they allege has resulted in significant financial losses and emotional distress, particularly for Cozens. They are...

Mayank Patel, a retailer at Allenton Fresh Supermarket in Ashburton, experienced a near-death incident when a car crashed through the store's front on Thursday. The dramatic event occurred just before 6 PM while Patel was restocking the cigarette cabinet behind the counter, and it was captured on camera. The crash caused significant chaos and concern for Patel and the customers present at the time. Full Article

SummaryPolice were justified in shooting Matu Reid, who entered a construction site on Queen St armed with a shotgun in July 2023, where he shot and killed two colleagues and injured others. Following failed negotiations and exchanged gunfire, police shot Reid in the arm, but he ultimately died from self-inflicted injuries. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) reported that the officers acted in self-defense due to fears for their lives and the safety of other...

A fire broke out in the Ministry of Social Development offices in Auckland's Glen Innes area this morning, prompting a response from a dozen fire trucks and 50 firefighters. The blaze, which started just after 7 am, has caused grey smoke to billow over the suburb, leading to road closures; Mayfair Pl is cordoned off, and Taniwha St and Apirana Ave are closed, while motorists can still use the roundabout. Authorities have advised that drivers...

SummaryWiparera Paraire, a 27-year-old man from Auckland, has pleaded guilty to four charges related to the exploitation of young people, including running a child prostitution ring that involved a 14-year-old girl and her friends. He appeared via audio-video feed in the High Court at Auckland, where he acknowledged his guilt, notably in connection with creating an objectionable video of the minor in 2023. Paraire faces a potential sentence of up to 14 years in prison,...