From tussock to transport hub

A new NZME board will be voted in today, with former National Party MP Steven Joyce becoming the chair, accompanied by outspoken shareholder Jim Grenon as a new director. The annual shareholders’ meeting, which initially seemed poised for conflict, will now feature a measured transition, as Grenon previously sought to replace the board but reached a compromise allowing him and Joyce to join alongside existing directors Guy Horrocks, Sussan Turner, and Carol Campbell, with Bowen...

A man was critically injured after being trapped for over seven hours in a tractor struck by a falling tree on a Tauranga orchard. Emergency services, including fire, police, and ambulance crews, extricated him, and he was subsequently airlifted to Waikato Hospital. WorkSafe has been notified of the incident, which occurred on Friday, with the emergency report coming six hours after the man became trapped. Full Article

A woman has critical injuries after falling 20 metres on to rocks at Musick Point. She was reportedly walking with friends when she slipped. The woman was rushed to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition. A woman sustained critical injuries after falling 20 meters onto rocks at Musick Point, a popular beach in East Auckland. She was walking with friends when she slipped, prompting a call to the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter at 3:50...

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...