New Zealand's Latest Breaking News, Business, Sport, Weather, Entertainment, Politics

Latest FromMelissa Nightingale

Students at Wellington College lay on a sports field to represent the 440 people who died on the worst day of the pandemic. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Pandemic would be 'impossible' to contain

14 Dec, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

A striking video illustrates how many people died in just one day during the pandemic.

Alem Tessema was living in fear after the shooting, which happened after an erratic taxi ride to Miramar. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Tears during sentencing for taxi driver shooting

13 Dec, 2018 9:56am
4 minutes to read

Paris Ohuka, who is now pregnant, cried in the dock during her sentencing.

The man is accused of assaulting a 3-month-old baby and a 1-year-old girl. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Man accused of assaulting baby and toddler

12 Dec, 2018 11:21am
2 minutes to read

A Porirua man now faces charges of assaulting two young children, and a woman.

Jardin Daniel Whanga-Elliott died in Wellington Hospital in July 2016 after being found by two members of the public lying in a gutter in Naenae, Lower Hutt. Photo / Facebook

NEW ZEALAND

Inquest: Brutal bashing discounted as cause of death

11 Dec, 2018 4:54pm
4 minutes to read

Jardin Whanga-Elliott was initially thought to have died from a violent beating.

A quarter of Kiwi teens have watched porn before the age of 12. Photo / 123RF

NEW ZEALAND

Quarter of teens watch porn before age 12, report reveals

5 Dec, 2018 2:00pm
5 minutes to read

Almost a quarter of teenagers think nobody should view porn.

Police were carrying out a scene examination at the block of flats in Petone where the man was killed. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Murder charge laid in Petone decapitation

4 Dec, 2018 9:37am
4 minutes to read

A man has been charged with murder after the grisly death of a 71-year-old Petone man.

The incident happened on Jackson St in Petone on Friday night. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

71-year-old homicide victim was decapitated, police say

3 Dec, 2018 4:03pm
4 minutes to read

GRAPHIC CONTENT. Witness says man was decapitated and head thrown from window.

Students can sit the digital exams on their own devices. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

More NCEA exams to go digital in 2019

3 Dec, 2018 1:00pm
4 minutes to read

Students will be able to choose to take their exams digitally in 14 subjects.

Hunter Macdonald publicly admitted to being the person filmed climbing on the Len Lye sculpture until it snapped. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

'Daredevil' admits breaking $300,000 Wgtn water whirler

30 Nov, 2018 10:15am
2 minutes to read

Hunter Macdonald pleaded guilty today to breaking the Len Lye sculpture on the waterfront.

Marcelo Vanzuita was sentenced in the Wellington District Court this morning. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Man sentenced after ignoring safe word

30 Nov, 2018 9:25am
3 minutes to read

Marcelo Vanzuita squeezed the victim's throat until she started to become dizzy.

Wendy Kauwhata with her rottweilers, two of which were involved in the crash yesterday afternoon. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Man in coma doesn't know wife died in crash

28 Nov, 2018 2:39pm
3 minutes to read

Wendy Kauwhata had a big heart and touched many lives, her son says.

The man, who is in custody, did not appear for his hearing in the High Court at Wellington today. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Murder accused fit to enter plea on stabbing

27 Nov, 2018 9:01am
2 minutes to read

The defendant is fit to plead, but may have a defence of insanity.

The scene on the rugged Wairarapa coast where the body of Sonam Shelar was discovered. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Surfers found missing pregnant woman's body at remote beach

22 Nov, 2018 1:55pm
6 minutes to read

Police would not be commenting on the cause of death until after a post mortem.

NEW ZEALAND

Divers to hunt for clues to pregnant woman's death

22 Nov, 2018 11:55am
6 minutes to read

Police would not be commenting on the cause of death until after a post mortem.

Tyrone Ryan Woodcock, 31, was sentenced in the Wellington District Court this afternoon. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Prison for hitting good Samaritan with car

21 Nov, 2018 5:57pm
2 minutes to read

Man thought he had seen a family violence incident, and stepped in to help.

The man escaped conviction in the Wellington District Court today. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

No conviction for sports coach who kissed teens

21 Nov, 2018 5:27pm
4 minutes to read

The girls have been ostracised at school since laying complaints with police.

The death of the 3-month-old baby is now the subject of a homicide inquiry. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Man appears in court charged with assaulting baby girl

20 Nov, 2018 4:36pm
Quick Read

Death of 3-month-old baby now the subject of a homicide inquiry.

Margaret Herewini-Te Huna sits in the dock at Wellington District Court where she was sentenced this morning for posting a harmful digital communication. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Jilted wife sentenced for exposing sex worker

18 Nov, 2018 1:25pm
4 minutes to read

She exposed a sex worker who was having an affair with her husband.

Gilbert McAlister appeared in the Wellington District Court by audio visual link for sentencing today. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Church burglar: 'I deserve to be in prison'

15 Nov, 2018 11:32am
3 minutes to read

Gilbert McAlister targeted six churches, a kindergarten, and a mental health centre.

NEW ZEALAND

Jilted wife sentenced for exposing sex worker

15 Nov, 2018 11:13am
4 minutes to read

Margaret Herewini-Te Huna exposed the victim online.

Lime scooters could soon be zipping around the capital's streets. File photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Lime scooters could come to Wellington

13 Nov, 2018 11:32am
3 minutes to read

Lime scooters are getting a mixed reception from Wellington council members.

Capital Kiwi wants our national icon to live alongside people in Wellington back yards. File photo / Tracey Mehrtens

NEW ZEALAND

'Ambitious' project to return kiwi to capital

12 Nov, 2018 8:32am
2 minutes to read

The first of 4400 traps is being laid this morning at a formal ceremony.

Hunter Macdonald appeared in court charged over breaking Wellington's Water Whirler sculpture. Photo /Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Hunter Macdonald in court over sculpture damage

9 Nov, 2018 8:19am
2 minutes to read

The $300,000 artwork snapped at the base, sending its climber plummeting into the water.

BUSINESS

Kiwis mistakenly think NZ safer from cyber crime

8 Nov, 2018 4:40pm
4 minutes to read

The survey shows a third of Kiwi businesses think they're safer than other countries.

The car pulled into a cycle lane in central Wellington, causing a cyclist to hit the back of the vehicle. Photo / NZPA / Wayne Drought

NEW ZEALAND

'Disgusting' road rage after car cut off cyclist

8 Nov, 2018 9:43am
2 minutes to read

A witness says the cyclist shoved the car door against the woman several times.

Police believe traces of synthetic drugs were on a cooking implement later used for food preparation at the children's home. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Synthetics-contaminated cooking utensil poisoned kids

8 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Police believe drugs were not intentionally administered to anybody in the family.

Marcus Abraham stands in the dock at the Hutt Valley District Court, where he was today discharged without conviction for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Ex-Tomorrow People singer let off domestic violence charge

7 Nov, 2018 3:10pm
2 minutes to read

Former lead singer of Kiwi reggae band let off charge of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

Drug use should be treated as a health issue, a report has found. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Treating drug use as a health problem will pay for itself: Report

7 Nov, 2018 11:27am
4 minutes to read

A NZ Drug Foundation study recommends drug use be treated the same as other health issues.

Do you live in one of the coveted nine suburbs where house values have risen above $1 million? Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Skyrocketing city: How much is your home worth?

7 Nov, 2018 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Check out the interactive to see the value of your Wellington home.

Bashii the male tiger is currently going through the complex process of being introduced to female tiger Senja, in the hopes the pair will breed. Photo / Wellington Zoo

NEW ZEALAND

Wellington Zoo receives 'Oscar' of zoo awards

6 Nov, 2018 2:28pm
3 minutes to read

"We feel honoured to be recognised for our work to reduce our impact on the environment."

Two of the cars took the brunt of it. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Tree crushes uni students' cars

6 Nov, 2018 2:11pm
Quick Read

The mangled cars were parked by the halls of residence.

Values for homes around the city have leaped up, particularly in the cheaper suburbs. Photo / Mark Mitchell

BUSINESS

Leap year: Wellington now has nine $1 million suburbs

5 Nov, 2018 11:48am
4 minutes to read

Land value has also shot up by 77 per cent for residential sections.

Emma Thornton, 21, has created a heat wrap which can be worn as a belt to provide comfort for women suffering pain from endometriosis. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Students tackle endometriosis, robots, tiny homes

2 Nov, 2018 2:46pm
4 minutes to read

Emma Thornton's heat wrap is designed to comfort women with endometriosis.

The man appeared in the Wellington District Court this morning. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Teacher in court over alleged intimate filming

2 Nov, 2018 10:11am
2 minutes to read

The teacher has 56 charges, including two for making objectionable publications.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this morning announced plans to rejuvenate Porirua's eastern suburbs. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Porirua project: Government announces $1.5b plan to rejuvenate city

1 Nov, 2018 11:31am
3 minutes to read

The PM announced plans to rejuvenate Porirua, including at least 2000 Kiwibuild homes.

Duncan Campbell, 44, appeared in the Wellington District Court this morning on a blackmail charge. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Sexual recordings used for blackmail

1 Nov, 2018 9:21am
2 minutes to read

Duncan Campbell threatened to share videos of his sexual encounter with the victim.

The man appeared by audio visual link in the High Court at Wellington this morning. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Accused in fatal Taita fight named

31 Oct, 2018 8:58am
2 minutes to read

The 50-year-old accused can now be named.

Armed police boarded a bus in Wellington this morning.

NEW ZEALAND

Manhunt: Armed police swoop on Wellington bus

31 Oct, 2018 8:13am
2 minutes to read

Armed police swooped on a passenger bus in central Wellington this morning.

Bus drivers went on strike last week, but are calling off the rest of the strike ahead of mediation. File photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Bus strike called off ahead of mediation

30 Oct, 2018 1:21pm
2 minutes to read

Bus drivers have returned to work as a sign of good faith.

Beloved pet Lucas has been missing in the bush since Friday. Photo / Givealittle

NEW ZEALAND

Dog-lovers get chopper in air to search for missing cavoodle

30 Oct, 2018 10:16am
3 minutes to read

Yelps can be heard in the bush, but Lucas has not yet been found.

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, meet with Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Pool

NEW ZEALAND

As it happened: Harry and Meghan's first day in NZ

28 Oct, 2018 6:08pm
3 minutes to read

Prince Harry and Meghan have wrapped up their public meet and greet.

Joshua Andrew Forman was sentenced at The Wellington District Court. Photo / Google Street View

NEW ZEALAND

Man threatens stepfather with machete

25 Oct, 2018 3:55pm
3 minutes to read

Joshua Forman also said his stepfather needed to have his head cut off.

Bus drivers may be walking off the job indefinitely today. File photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Council 'breathtakingly arrogant' over Wellington buses

25 Oct, 2018 8:06am
4 minutes to read

Bus operators and a union spokesman are addressing a select committee this morning.

A number of councils, including Wellington City Council, have asked for a fuel tax to be introduced. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

No regional fuel tax for Wellington

24 Oct, 2018 8:15am
3 minutes to read

The council says it is not in discussions over the fuel tax.

Tomorrow People singer Marcus Abraham was kicked out of the band earlier this year after an alleged domestic assault. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Revealed: Reggae star charged with assaulting partner

23 Oct, 2018 11:39am
2 minutes to read

The singer has been fighting to keep his name secret since April.

Xion Flaws back with his mother Beverley Flaws in Wellington after being missing in bush for 12 hours. Photo / supplied

NEW ZEALAND

'Scratched head to toe': Xion's gruelling night lost in bush

23 Oct, 2018 10:03am
3 minutes to read

Xion Flaws walked for hours through painful gorse bushes after going missing on Sunday.

Toby Devine (left) will be kayaking in the staff team, while Axel af Klercker, Tom Gibbs, and Ryan Tait will form the student team. Judge Arthur Tompkins will mentor them all. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Judge to mentor students for Coast to Coast

21 Oct, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

The boys from Aotea College will be joining in the gruelling race next year.

Foster parents are needed as kitten season begins. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

SPCA needs fosters to bottle feed kittens

18 Oct, 2018 3:46pm
2 minutes to read

As kitten season begins, the SPCA are looking for fosters.

Upper Hutt man Angelo Brown spared no thought for himself when he leaped onto the train tracks to save a fainted woman. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Man who saved woman from train says he's no hero

18 Oct, 2018 2:47pm
3 minutes to read

Angelo Brown saw the woman faint onto the tracks, and sprung into action.

The Brooklyn property has been saved from mortgagee sale. Photo / Google Maps

NEW ZEALAND

'Kerbside viewing only' house saved from sale

17 Oct, 2018 11:18am
2 minutes to read

Buyers were warned they couldn't go inside - but now it's not being sold at all.

Some of those who turn up to the protest carried loved ones lost to breast cancer. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Breast cancer funding: 'More important than prolonging an erection'

16 Oct, 2018 10:56am
5 minutes to read

The women are presenting a petition with at least 32,000 signatures to Parliament.

Police immediately abandoned pursuit as the other vehicle travelled at high speeds, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, toward Otaki. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Witnesses to fleeing driver incident sought

16 Oct, 2018 10:46am
Quick Read

Police have arrested a 45-year-old man, but still want to speak to witnesses.

The application form requires the tenant to list the value of their chattels. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

'Breach of privacy': Tenant asked to give value of her belongings

15 Oct, 2018 4:15pm
4 minutes to read

The woman could not understand why the rental company would need the information.

The first time the man showed up a week ago, he allegedly pulled a large knife on staff. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Third time unlucky: Pharmacy robbery suspect returns to scene of crime

15 Oct, 2018 10:27am
3 minutes to read

The man showed up to the pharmacy a third time last night, and was arrested.

The fatal crash happened in June 2015. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Coroner rules on drunk-driver's death

12 Oct, 2018 1:44pm
4 minutes to read

Leyton-Leigh Alderson was impaired by alcohol and cannabis when he crashed.

Police work on being visible and approachable to help prevent sexual offending in the inner city. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Police 'embarrass the kids' to prevent sexual assault

12 Oct, 2018 7:45am
4 minutes to read

Detective Sergeant Grant Carroll's approach is blunt, but it could prevent an assault.

Transport Accident Investigation Commission chief commissioner Jane Meares announcing their Navigation in Pilotage Waters watch list during a press conference in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Cruise ship crash, ship grounding force watchdog to act

11 Oct, 2018 1:30pm
4 minutes to read

Four incidents of ships grounding or hitting rocks involved poor navigation.

The man appeared by audio visual link in court this morning. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Murder charge laid over fatal fight in Taita

11 Oct, 2018 9:59am
2 minutes to read

The 50-year-old was charged with murder today in the Hutt Valley District Court.

People can get special anti-theft screws to keep their number plates from being snatched. Photo / Stephen Parker.

NEW ZEALAND

Could mystery thieves be stockpiling number plates?

10 Oct, 2018 6:49pm
2 minutes to read

Stolen plates are usually used in petrol drive-offs, but there hasn't been an increase.

NEW ZEALAND

Man slashes at woman in 'random' home invasion

10 Oct, 2018 3:29pm
2 minutes to read

Man tried to slash woman with a knife before fleeing the scene.

Police Minister Stuart Nash has become the victim of credit card fraud. File photo / Andrew Warner.

NEW ZEALAND

Police Minister a victim of credit card fraud

10 Oct, 2018 12:24pm
3 minutes to read

The Police Minister's wife discovered more than $1000 bills from Apple on their card.

Hunter MacDonald was injured when he climbed and snapped the sculpture on Monday. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Sculpture damage inspires 'idiot signs'

10 Oct, 2018 9:35am
4 minutes to read

Need a constant reminder not to be an idiot? Look no further.