A Wellington dairy owner says she was alone only for 15 minutes — but in that time, four masked men stormed the shop, assaulted her, and made off in a stolen vehicle with thousands of dollars worth of cash and cigarettes.Police are still investigating Sunday evening’s aggravated robbery at Lower…

Singing filled Parliament’s debating chamber after members passed a bill which will restore New Zealand citizenship for thousands of Samoans who were stripped of it four decades ago.The Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Bill was unanimously backed by all political parties in Wellington today, closing a bitter chapter in New…

Residents are returning home after a large vegetation fire burned through 3.5 kilometres of shelter belt in the Western Bay of Plenty this afternoon.Fire and Emergency New Zealand were called following reports of numerous shelter belts on fire near Snodgrass Rd in Te Puna around 3.20pm.”Multiple shelter belts are on…

A day after a nationwide hīkoi ended with tens of thousands marching to Parliament, it’s protest inside the debating chamber that’s prompting complaints.The pictures of yesterday’s Hīkoi mō te Tiriti are now etched in the minds of the masses as a police-estimated crowd of 42,000 converged at Parliament. The hīkoi…

A senior member of Black Power Aotearoa Auckland says he is concerned about the impact the Government’s gang patch ban will have on families.The Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill comes into effect on Thursday, making it an offence to display gang insignias in public places.Police have said displaying patches will not…

The mother of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is boycotting the world premiere of Rust at a film festival in Poland on Wednesday, saying she views it as an attempt by Alec Baldwin to “unjustly profit” from her daughter’s death.The Western is premiering at the International Film Festival of the Art…

A rocket-powered New Zealand-built aircraft has hit supersonic speed for the first time, making a top speed of 1358.28km/h in its first flight.Multinational company Dawn Aerospace achieved the milestone flying out of Glentanner Aerodome, near the base of Aoraki/Mount Cook.The Mk-II Aurora is one of the fastest privately-developed aircraft on…

An 11-year-old from Tauranga has become the youngest-ever winner of the Hole in One Challenge at Lake Taupō, and is putting his $10,000 cash prize money towards a family vacation.Elijah Ellis told First Up he was shocked when it went in, while everyone around him started jumping up and down…

Keanu Reeves’ iconic bullet dodging backbend in The Matrix has topped a Samsung poll for the best cinematic stunts of all time.In total, 2000 film buffs crowned Neo’s impressive technique seen in the 1999 action sci-fi blockbuster the winner — topping Tom Cruise’s death-defying performance of hanging from a plane…

A sea of Southerners filled Dunedin’s Town Hall last night in support of the Save Our Southern Hospital campaign.The Government announced earlier this year the new Dunedin Hospital would either need to be cut back or done in stages, due to a budget blow-out.Around 1000 people turned up to hear…