Tipene Funerals ex-employee Fiona Bakulich burial scams: Undertaker to be sentenced today

SummaryA gun-wielding man threatened a nurse in Palmerston North as she left work late at night. The incident occurred around 11pm when the man entered the back seat of her car, pointed a gun at her, and demanded she drive. After a short distance, the nurse managed to escape and seek help at a nearby house, while the assailant fled on foot. Full Article

SummaryMatthew Horncastle, managing director of Williams Corporation, a Christchurch-based property development company, has scaled back his extravagant lifestyle in response to a slowdown in the housing sector. He has stopped chartering private jets and is now renting out his luxury superyacht, as the company experienced a significant decline in new builds, dropping from 631 homes in 2021 to 267. Despite this downturn, Horncastle remains optimistic and is looking forward to welcoming a baby with his...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed tensions with Deputy PM Winston Peters regarding the Government's trade messaging during an interview with Newstalk ZB. The coalition leaders have disagreed over New Zealand's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, with Peters criticizing the use of "military language" in trade discussions. In a speech at the East-West Centre in Hawaii, Peters denounced such rhetoric, describing the framing of international trade as a "trade war" as potentially "hysterical and...

Gang member Harley Davidson Eruti was sentenced to three years and three months in jail for attempting to pervert justice by faking a funeral to gain compassionate bail. This scheme followed a similar successful attempt by a co-defendant, who had used the same funeral home and was released for a godmother's funeral but failed to return. Judge Ngaroma Tahana acknowledged Eruti's efforts to change but highlighted his serious criminal history, leading to the court's decision...

The Government proposes eliminating the practical driving test for attaining a full licence, aiming to streamline the licensing process and make it more affordable, according to Transport Minister Chris Bishop. He noted that New Zealand is an “outlier” compared to countries like Australia, which implement longer learner periods and reduced demerit thresholds instead of a practical test. The proposal, set for public consultation, includes new safety measures: a clean driving record requirement for restricted drivers,...

Laleni Saini is coping with the loss of her husband, Sorav Saini, who died in a machinery accident at a timber mill over a year ago. As she navigates her grief, she is also managing the challenges of single parenthood and financial responsibilities with little emotional support. Her determination to seek justice for her husband's death has been a driving force in her life during this difficult time. Full Article