The Friday Poem: “discharge notes (ii)” by Amy Marguerite

A teen rapist with anti-social personality disorder has been denied parole due to the unknown risk of reoffending. Noah Matthews, now 19, was sentenced last year for a 2022 rape committed at age 16, and his nearly 50 breaches of bail while awaiting sentencing were significant factors against his release. Matthews' case was publicly named, a rare occurrence for youth offenders, because his non-compliance with bail and rehabilitation services led to a change in the...

Severe Weather Forecast for New ZealandWet and windy weather is set to return to New Zealand starting Thursday, with MetService issuing heavy rain warnings and strong wind watches for the southwest of the South Island. The warning for Fiordland indicates expected rainfall of 150 to 180 mm, with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h possible on Thursday afternoon and evening, along with potential thunderstorms. This severe weather is predicted to extend to the North...

A worker on a container ship at Port Nelson fell 12 metres into the sea after a guard rail gave way while he was loading containers. In court, the port company was fined $110,000 and ordered to pay $5,000 in emotional harm reparation, with Judge Jo Rielly emphasizing the company's role in the incident, although it wasn't solely responsible. The stevedore recounted his terrifying experience of not knowing which way was up or down and...

Emergency services have responded to a serious crash involving a car and train in Rolleston, Canterbury. Crews were called to the Kerrs Rd level crossing around 7:20 PM, and one individual is reported to be in critical condition. A police spokesperson confirmed that officers were alerted to the incident shortly after it occurred. Full Article

SummaryShane Richardson, 29, from Lower Hutt, and Owen Jenner, 21, died in an 11-bike crash at Oulton Park during a British Supersport Championship event. Richardson, who leaves behind two young children, was involved in the incident that also resulted in minor injuries to fellow Kiwi rider Morgan McLaren-Wood. The tragic event led to the cancellation of the race, and investigations are currently ongoing with the coroner. Full Article

Westpac CEO Catherine McGrath intervened on behalf of elderly customer Andrew Che Sit Bong, who mistakenly sent $158,000 to the wrong account due to a digit error while attempting an international transfer. The funds ended up in an Auckland woman's account, who reportedly spent the money on luxury items, including two cars, and transferred large sums to others. McGrath directly contacted Barclays Bank in the UK to escalate the situation, emphasizing the need for customers...