Downed powerlines spark grass fire

National MP Hamish Campbell faces accusations of minimizing his involvement with the Two by Twos ministry, a secretive religious group under investigation by the FBI and New Zealand police for sexual abuse allegations. Sources have identified Campbell as an "elder" who has hosted weekly Bible meetings at his home in Christchurch. Initially claiming his connection was merely familial, Campbell later admitted to being a member of the group, stating, "I have hosted a small number...

Ex-tropical Cyclone Tam has begun impacting the country, resulting in sunken yachts, power outages for around a thousand homes, and severe winds causing tree falls. Forecasters indicate that the storm is intensifying as it approaches, with a dozen severe weather warnings and watches issued across the North Island, predicting up to 200mm of rain and winds reaching 120km/h. The worst conditions are expected to hit Northland and Auckland around 7pm, continuing into the following evening,...

SummaryA teenager, Lawrence Wiki-Newman, was sentenced to six years in prison for severely attacking a man with a hammer, even after the victim lost consciousness. The incident, which occurred in November 2023, stemmed from a dispute over a car borrowed from a family member of his cousin, Savay Barnes-Manuel. It was Barnes-Manuel who intervened during the attack, urging Wiki-Newman to stop to prevent a potential homicide. Full Article

In a significant development in the rugby world, All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane will join Irish club Leinster next season, aiming to transition from being viewed as a villain to a world-class recruit. Committed to the All Blacks until the 2027 World Cup, Ioane will utilize a sabbatical clause in his contract to skip one Super Rugby Pacific season with the Blues for a six-month stint abroad. Despite offers from Japan, he has chosen to...

A doctor involved in a workplace sex allegations investigation claims he filmed a woman to demonstrate her consent and protect himself from potential #MeToo accusations. The doctor and the woman, referred to as Ms G, reportedly connected through a sexual website, met at a bar, and agreed to engage in a secret sexual relationship due to her marital status. Their relationship, centered around a sexual fetish, involved the doctor as the dominant partner and the...

SummaryThree men accused of gang-raping a German backpacker after picking her up from Auckland’s Karangahape Rd on New Year’s Day have been granted interim name suppression by Judge Kevin Glubb. The men, charged with sexual violation, appeared in the Auckland District Court on January 23 and were granted bail, with arguments regarding name suppression scheduled for June. The Crown opposed the continuation of name suppression, and two of the defendants wore face masks during the...