Man’s death outside his Wellington home was a homicide, police believe

A woman accused of being a party to murder claims she had never seen a dead body before, but recognized Rau Tongia was deceased due to his pallor. Currently on trial in the High Court at Wellington, she denies involvement in Tongia's killing in December 2020, despite allegations of sending Facebook messages to an accomplice who had a gun. Evidence suggests Shayde Carolyn Weston, already convicted of the murder, shot Tongia in the back while...

A prolific burglar, Charles Wilson, was arrested for aggravated robbery while on electronically monitored bail for previous break-ins. He left a police scanner at the crime scene, which contained his DNA. Despite attempting to convince the jury that he was in the area to buy cannabis and that his DNA was on the scanner from a prior sale, Judge Stephen Clark noted that the jury did not believe his claims. Full Article

Lorde hinted at an impromptu performance in Tāmaki Makaurau through a cryptic Instagram post, drawing fans to gather in Auckland’s CBD. Many youths waited outside the YMCA on Vincent St, anticipating the star's appearance, and footage later showed Lorde delivering a special pop-up show for her hometown audience. An invitation screenshot indicated that while the address was shared, “entry is not guaranteed,” adding an air of exclusivity to the surprise event. Full Article

SummaryAct leader David Seymour is advocating for immediate action against the dangerous trend of “run it straight events,” which he criticizes as “total muppetry.” His call follows the tragic death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite, who sustained severe head injuries during a private event and later died after emergency surgery. Satterthwaite's family described his death as an “accident waiting to happen,” urging others to refrain from participating in this social media-driven phenomenon. Full Article

SummaryThree major New Zealand medicinal cannabis companies—Helius Therapeutics, Green Leaf Group, and Elysian Group—are planning a merger to create a single entity named Helius Health, pending shareholder approval by the end of June. This strategic move aims to reshape the country's medicinal cannabis landscape, which has faced numerous closures and challenges in recent years. Helius Therapeutics is notable for being New Zealand's first certified Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) medicinal cannabis company, while Green Leaf Group...

Summary 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite tragically died after participating in a private “run it straight” game with friends, prompting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to call it an "absolute tragedy." Luxon emphasized that while the Government cannot ban such online trends, it serves as a reminder for individuals to take personal responsibility regarding their activities. He urged adults, sports influencers, and celebrities driving these trends to reflect on their impact. Full Article