A man who allegedly attacked two people on an Auckland bus last night has been arrested, police say. One man died and a second man was seriously injured after being attacked by the same person in two separate incidents aboard a bus in the east of the city. The incidents…

A 26-year-old man has died after drowning at an Auckland beach on Monday night. Police were called to Kariotahi Beach around 7.10pm to reports of two men “experiencing difficulties in the water and struggling to return to shore”. Surf Life Saving’s Search and Rescue team responded with one rescue watercraft…

Five people linked by police to the Head Hunters gang – including a teenager – have been arrested after a café on Auckland’s North Shore was allegedly gutted in a firebombing last month. Around 11.20pm on November 1, emergency services were alerted to a fire at the Sunflour Café following…

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says “some dickhead” has vandalised his office in Lower Hutt.In a post to social media, Bishop said the office in the suburb of Wainuiomata had been “smashed up”.”Office is closed for today. My apologies to those who need to come in for appointments today.”Chris Bishop shared…

Two further people have been arrested in an ongoing homicide investigation after a motorcyclist was allegedly run down and stabbed in Mt Wellington last Friday.The investigation, named Operation Hawkin, has been underway since December 5 after a man with critical injuries presented to an Auckland medical centre. He later died…

Just over a third of voters believe Christopher Luxon is the best person to lead National, while almost the same number want someone else from the party’s frontbench in the top job, a new 1News Verian poll reveals.The poll, conducted between November 29 and December 3, found 35% of those…

A major bank has increased its longer-term fixed home loan rates while cutting its six-month rate, citing a sharp rise in wholesale interest rates.Westpac is lifting rates on two- to five-year terms by 30 basis points (0.30%), while cutting its six-month special rate by 20 basis points (0.20%) to 4.69%…

Insurance company Tower has become the latest financial services company to suffer a multi-million dollar penalty for misleading tens of thousands of customers and financially costing them. The High Court has penalised the company $7 million for more than a decade of overcharging customers because it did not properly apply…

Whakatāne District Council has thrown its support behind residents of a country lane distressed about Genesis Energy’s plans to axe their trees.However, Genesis says removing the trees is the only viable option to make room for 33kV power lines to tie its planned solar farm to the national grid connection…

A recall has been issued for two cold-smoked salmon products sold in the South Island due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.The affected products included Ahi Mokopuna Limited Partnership’s Akaroa King Salmon brand Mānuka Cold Smoked Slices (100g) with a use-by date of 29 Dec 25 (Batch No. 46780);…