Village gearing up for Matariki celebrations

A construction truck, known to be unroadworthy due to defective brakes, struck and killed road worker Johnathon Walters in Auckland, despite repeated warnings to its owner, Ashik Ali. Ali, 55, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter ahead of his scheduled trial in May 2024. Want More Context? 🔎

Temperatures in New Zealand are expected to drop to single digits as southerly winds replace the current showery weather. MetService forecasts that while the North Island will experience some showers, they will taper off and remain mainly in the eastern and southern regions, with similar easing conditions anticipated in the South Island. Want More Context? 🔎

An ongoing police operation in Maketū is connected to the investigation into the death of 20-year-old Zain Matenga Taikato-Fox, who died in Rotorua Hospital after being dropped off by four men who claimed to have found him critically injured on a roadside. Police are seeking witnesses related to a vehicle incident on State Highway 33, though no charges have been filed regarding his death. Want More Context? 🔎

A teen father has admitted to physically assaulting his newborn son, breaking the baby's ribs and bruising his face, due to feeling "tired and overwhelmed" from night feeds, while the mother struggled with post-natal depression. Reports indicate that the mother occasionally heard the father telling the baby to "shut up" during these difficult nights. Want More Context? 🔎

A 32-year-old man, Adam Busby, was sentenced to three years in prison for having unprotected sex with a 12-year-old girl, who is now 13 and visibly pregnant. The incident occurred after Busby approached her in the street and invited her to his house in Stratford, Taranaki, on January 11 of this year. Want More Context? 🔎

An Auckland entertainer has denied allegations of raping and grooming a girl, expressing he is "devastated, deeply shaken and utterly shocked." The police have charged him with multiple counts of rape, unlawful sexual connection, and related offenses, while his lawyer has requested name suppression due to significant personal consequences. Want More Context? 🔎