Mark Mitchell’s promised gang crackdown arrives

Emergency Response to Apartment Fire in East AucklandEmergency services are addressing a fire involving multiple apartments in East Auckland's Glen Innes area, specifically on Taniwha St. Fire and Emergency New Zealand reported receiving several alerts at 5:54 PM regarding the blaze in a single-storey block of units. Eight fire trucks are currently on-site to combat the fire, as authorities work to extinguish the flames and ensure safety. Full Article

Sir Bob Jones, a prominent New Zealand property magnate, has passed away at the age of 85 at his Wellington home, surrounded by his family after a brief illness. Known for his controversial persona, Jones built a substantial $2 billion property portfolio and established the New Zealand Party in 1983. He is survived by three sons and six daughters, and his family has requested privacy during their time of grief, with tributes already pouring in...

Westpac has been fined $3.25 million for misleading representations related to advertised discounts, which resulted in overcharging 24,621 customers by a total of $6.35 million. The bank admitted its conduct in December after civil proceedings were initiated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). A spokesperson for Westpac stated that the bank fully cooperated with the FMA's investigation. Full Article

SummaryFinance Minister Nicola Willis plans to increase net new spending in the Budget by $1.3 billion, reduced from an earlier announcement of $2.4 billion, yet she will still spend more than any finance minister in New Zealand's history. Labour leader Chris Hipkins criticized this reduction as an invitation for young New Zealanders to leave, suggesting it reflects a form of austerity. However, the article argues that Willis's spending cannot be considered austerity, as it continues...

SummaryChristchurch woman Dante Aorangi, 20, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of British tourist Joseph Snode, who was visiting New Zealand. She received a sentence of three months' community detention, ordered to pay $5000 in reparation at $20 a week, and was disqualified from driving for a year. Snode’s family, particularly his mother Elaine, expressed horror at the sentence, highlighting their ongoing grief and loss after the incident, which occurred just 79 days...

Wellington Wind WarningWellington residents are advised to seek shelter due to a rare red wind warning issued by MetService, predicting gales of up to 140km/h that could lead to widespread damage, power outages, and hazardous driving conditions. Julie Paterson, a Lower Hutt resident, experienced a near-death incident when she narrowly avoided being struck by a falling tree branch while preparing to leave for a doctor's appointment during the storm. She described hearing a loud cracking...