‘One hell of a shock’: Why not everyone wants flowers from David Lomas

A police officer was injured after a motorcyclist attempted to swerve a parked police car near Ranfurly, leading to the arrest of the Alexandra motorcyclist for dangerous driving and failing to stop. The incident began with the motorcycle speeding at over 70kmh above the limit near Wedderburn, escalating to more than double the limit near Ranfurly where the crash occurred. Inspector Matt Scoles emphasized the reckless behavior that endangered lives and urged the public to...

Police responded to a serious crash involving a car and a motorcyclist in Pakuranga this morning, blocking a main road at the intersection of Pakuranga Road and Stanniland Street. The motorcyclist sustained critical injuries, prompting the Serious Crash Unit and emergency services to attend the scene, with diversions in place for motorists to avoid Pakuranga Road. Hato Hone St John also responded to the incident with one ambulance, two rapid response vehicles, and an operations...

The decline in literacy skills among university students and teenagers, as highlighted by educators and test results, is causing concern over the impact on society's ability to access and understand cultural knowledge. The shift towards digital reading and reliance on the internet for information is seen as a threat to traditional learning and intellectual development. Without a focus on promoting literacy and critical reading skills, there is a risk of losing access to the valuable...

The landlord visited the property 43 times in 65 weeks, often for garden work, leading to a dispute with tenants over privacy and quiet enjoyment. The Tenancy Tribunal ruled the landlord must pay compensation for breaching the tenants' rights, although they were also required to cover damages. The tenants felt uncomfortable with the frequency of visits, leading to the tribunal awarding them two weeks' rent as compensation. Full Article

An investigation will be conducted after two caravans were destroyed by fire in Gore this afternoon. Fire and Emergency New Zealand received reports of a caravan on fire at the Gore Town & Country Club, leading to substantial damage to both caravans. Additional resources were dispatched, and a fire investigator was called to determine the cause of the blaze. Full Article

The Howick RSA has awarded its 2024 tertiary scholarships to Stephanie Ly of Ormiston Senior College and Vina Lomawai of Howick College, who received their awards at the Howick and Pakuranga Community Sports Centre. Madeleine East, chair of the RSA's welfare trusts, commended the high standard of applicants and wished the students success in their university studies. Howick RSA president Barry Dreyer highlighted the financial support provided to the scholars over two years and the...