Christchurch fire: Smoke seen billowing across city as firefighters respond to building blaze

Former teacher Nathan Curtis Whanga met a 13-year-old on Grindr, but failed to verify the boy's age before engaging in sexual acts at the teen's house. Charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a child under 16, Whanga defended himself in a jury trial in the Hamilton District Court in January. Full Article

Four-year-old Timothy Tu’uaki Rolleston-Bryan tragically died after being attacked by dogs in Katikati on March 28. His grandparents, Amy Rolleston and Timothy Bryan, are remembering him fondly and caring for his cousin Jayleen, while expressing gratitude for community support and stressing the importance of teaching children about dog safety. The family is devastated by the loss of Timoti, who was known for his constant smile and joyful demeanor, and are coping with this tragedy on...

The New Zealand parliament recently rejected the treaty principles bill, causing significant damage to Māori relations that will require time to repair. The legislation sparked intense debate comparable to past controversial measures like nuclear free legislation and homosexual law reform in the 1980s. The ongoing debate over the treaty bill may spill into next year's election campaign, further complicating efforts to resolve the issue. Full Article

Police officer Morne de Lange was sentenced for careless driving and assault with a weapon, receiving 100 hours of community work and a $1000 emotional harm payment. Judge Stephen Bonnar denied de Lange's request for a discharge without conviction for the assault charge, stemming from a bizarre, unlawful arrest in which de Lange rammed a motorbike against a petrol station bollard and attacked the rider with pepper spray and a Taser. Defense lawyer Todd Simmonds...

A 24-year-old Kiwi was arrested in Thailand for allegedly smuggling cocaine in his passport, with 0.18g of cocaine found during an arrivals hall check at Phuket Airport Immigration on April 8. The man is currently in custody and may face severe penalties for drug offences in Thailand, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs working to provide consular assistance. Full Article

Emirates Team New Zealand is preparing for their third consecutive America’s Cup defense without long-time helmsman Peter Burling, as they were unable to come to an agreement for him to return. Burling, who has been at the helm for the last three campaigns and achieved significant milestones, including becoming the youngest helmsman to win an America’s Cup race, is parting ways with the team. Team NZ chief executive Grant Dalton expressed gratitude for Burling's contributions...