Dax Holland was a long-time member of Tauranga’s homeless community and a regular at community meals. Dax Holland was a long-time member of Tauranga’s homeless community and a regular at community meals. Police have arrested a man and charged him with murder after Tauranga man Dax Holland was found dead last weekend. Holland’s body was found at Wharepai Domain on Saturday, February 14. In a statement today, they said a 24-year-old had been charged with murder and was due to appear in Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

The boy’s parents spoke to the Herald about the case and their fury at her name being kept secret for so long. May became involved, and the boy’s parents believed she was helping them. “We thought, great, she’s helping him with his mental health – but all the while she was destroying his mental health,” his father said. While awaiting sentencing, she was on bail, at one stage even travelling overseas, which angered the boy’s parents. The boy's parents were furious May kept her name secret for so long.

It went for the jumbo cut in October because of the clear signs the sought-after economic recovery was faltering and, well, people needed cheering up. So, it went ahead in November with the non-needed cut, but was reasonably clear that this one would be the finish. What the RBNZ has done in its projections (page 40) in the latest MPS, is give a just over 50% chance that the OCR will move up in the December 2026 OCR review, and an over 100% chance it will have risen in the February 2027 review. Take what many regard as the 'prudent' approach, and signal hikes to counter inflation, and this could squash the recovery. We do need to give the economy a chance.

An abandoned property in central Christchurch, plagued by squatters, rubbish and rats, has sparked 43 complaints. And Christchurch City Council admits there is not much it can do about the Worcester St property. A makeshift dwelling at the Worcester St site. Worcester St residents are calling for this abandoned property littered with rubbish to be cleaned up. Photo: Geoff SloanWeston said the city council attempted to contact the owner but had no response.

Firefighters battle the blaze at Northcote College on Auckland's North Shore. Photo: Finn Blackwell/RNZFirefighters are tackling a blaze at Auckland's Northcote College on the city's North Shore. The fire started during today's one hour strike by the Professional Firefighters Union. On social media, a school spokesperson said: "There is an active fire at Northcote College in the sports pavilion. New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union secretary Wattie Watson said contingencies were meant to be put in place during the strike.

‘‘Campus Constable’’ John Woodhouse drew on reserves of strength to remain undefeated champion of push-ups at University College yesterday. However, 65-year-old Senior Constable John Woodhouse managed to retain his undefeated status — albeit narrowly. He won his annual competition against a group of University College students by knocking out 80 push-ups. However, Snr Const Woodhouse dug down deep. First-year University of Otago student Joe Lepionka set a student record during his attempt at beating Snr Const Woodhouse in the annual push-up competition at University College yesterday.

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Photo: RNZPolice have arrested three men after a serious incident in Christchurch that left four people injured, one critically. Emergency services were called to a property in Hoani St, in the suburb of Northcote, about 9.30pm on Wednesday. Two were due to appear in the Christchurch District Court today, and the 40-year-old was due to appear in Dunedin. Police were called to Hoani St, in the suburb of Northcote, on Wednesday nignt. Residents could expect to see police at the Hoani St property again today as a scene examination continued.

The teacher left her drink bottle containing wine in the classroom. However, the principal at the previous school was alerted by a teacher and four community members about the shoplifting. The woman was on lunch duty during the second half of the lunch break, leaving her responsible for monitoring students. While on duty, she grabbed a bottle of wine from her car and poured it into her drink bottle and then, leaving the wine bottle in her car, sat at an outside table on school grounds and drank several sips from the drink bottle. After the lunch break, she left her drink bottle containing the wine in her classroom while she went on a walk with a class of students.

A Dunedin secondary school band due to support the Foo Fighters next year has still not been paid for the city council-backed New Year’s Eve performance. A council spokeswoman contacted the Otago Daily Times late yesterday to say a curator would pay the band by end of this week. The Otago Daily Times understands neither of the bands have been paid yet. guitarist and vocalist Lucy Hughes said the band had been through the various council channels, but to no avail. A council spokeswoman said the council employed a curator who invoiced the council, and they held the commercial arrangement with the bands.

Coastguard Hawke’s Bay skipper Henry van Tuel said conditions were calm on the night. “We had six on the boat and three in the radio room, so nine of us were involved ... We used our lights and night-vision gear,” he told Hawke’s Bay Today. Napier mayor Richard McGrath said earlier this month the city was affected by the tragedy. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community of this young child,” he said. Information could also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

When the change was announced, Treasury said it expected 80% of the employer cost to be met by lower-than-expected pay rises. Kelly Eckhold, chief economist at Westpac, said it was likely that all else being equal, pay rises this year would be lower. “In the end, employers will pay a total level of remuneration in line with prevailing supply and demand trends in the market. “ACC charges, potentially fringe benefit tax, you’re going to have training costs, you might have uniforms … as someone who is hiring, you think about what is the total cost to me and my business. She said that until the economy clearly improved, the contribution increase was likely to mean smaller pay rises.

The family started a GiveaLittle page to raise funds to help them through the financial burden of the disaster. Pahl runs a painting business called Sublime Coating Limited. Pahl, who runs painting company Sublime Coating, bought the home eight years ago as a fixer-upper. The house exterior hanging above the slip had a fresh coat of light blue paint, done by Pahl himself. Being a tradie himself, Pahl spent a lot of time hand renovating the home.

The Dunedin City Council is replacing community housing units in Fitzroy St, South Dunedin. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONSavings of more than $400,000 on a Dunedin community housing project suggest rolling back expansion of the city council’s portfolio was the wrong call, an advocate says. The Dunedin City Council decided last year to carry on with redevelopment at a site in Fitzroy St, South Dunedin, but to pause other plans amid rising building costs. However, expenditure on the Fitzroy St project to replace four units is now forecast to be $406,000 underspent, reflecting savings arising during procurement. A report for the council in January last year said escalating building costs meant the community housing development programme needed to be reconsidered.

Sir Ian Taylor. Photo: ODT filesSir Ian Taylor has changed his tune and now plans to visit Santana Minerals’ proposed goldmine in pursuit of answers. He initially cancelled the visit following the publication of an opinion piece by the Australian mining company that Sir Ian claimed contained ‘‘critical misinformation’’. ‘‘We invited Sir Sam because his public commentary contained concerning inaccuracies untethered to the science and the technical record and Sir Sam is still getting the facts wrong. ‘‘It would be good if, like Sir Ian, he too had a change of heart [and] took us up on a site visit.’’The company did not respond to a request for emails offering Sir Sam a site visit.