State Highway 1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru – known as the Desert Road – will close for nearly two months over the summer for maintenance works.The key North Island route will be closed from January 6 until late February 2025 as part of the SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance…

The High Court in Christchurch has heard evidence about murder-accused Tingjun Cao being stopped for a police vehicle check on the same day he was arrested.Officers involved in the stop on July 22, 2023, three days after Yanfei Bao’s disappearance, have detailed how it unfolded as the trial reaches its…

A controversial plan to enable housing to be built in Nelson’s Kākā Valley is one step closer — but the developer isn’t celebrating yet.Last week, the Environment Court issued its decision to approve Private Plan Change 28 which would rezone about 287 hectares of land from rural to urban.The rezoning…

An Auckland man and woman face nearly 30 charges after what police call a “string of violent shopliftings” in recent months — including a toy store and a supermarket.Senior sergeant MJ Riddle, of Counties Manukau South police, said the pair were arrested at their Papakura home last week.”Some of the…

A diver has died in hospital after being attacked by a shark off the coast of the Chatham Islands today.Emergency services said were called around midday, after reports the man, who was diving off a boat, had been critically injured.Stuff reported the diver was taken to Waitangi Wharf, where he…

Alliance Group has posted a full-year after-tax loss of $95.8million but is forecasting a return to profitability in the current financial year. Announcing its result for the year ending September 30, the company said the figure included one-off costs of $48.2m including those associated with the closure of its Smithfield…

Tens of thousands of people have marched through Wellington as Hīkoi mō te Tiriti packed out Parliament’s grounds today. Police estimated about 42,000 people were participating in the march, organised by Toitū te Tiriti, many of who oppose the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, which passed its first reading last week…

Rural supplies co-operative Farmlands has announced a $14.3million full-year net loss on the back of a $68.2m drop in revenue for the year ended June 30. The company said the result was exacerbated by a one-off accounting adjustment to previously recognised tax losses of $12.3m. The result compared to a…

A man has been charged after allegedly aiming a high-powered laser at the Otago Rescue Helicopter last night.Police said they were alerted to a laser being pointed at the aircraft for four minutes in north Oamaru around 10pm.Following the laser strike, the helicopter flew to a house and followed a…

An ill-prepared solo tramper has been rescued after a night in the bush on the Kapiti Coast – 12 hours after calling for help.Police said they received a distress call from a man around 11.30pm on Monday after became lost on a track near Waikanae.The tramper – who had not…