Police are investigating an 'unexplained death' in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKERPolice are investigating a sudden death in Christchurch. Officers were called to a Main North Road property in Papanui at about 2.40pm. Police said the public may see more of them while they work to find out what happened. The death is being treated as unexplained.
Image: RNZFuel stocks have again risen in the latest update from the government. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment's latest fuel stocks update shows 62.6 days of petrol, 51.7 days of diesel, and 53.5 days of jet fuel as of midday Sunday. All are up on the last update, though petrol and diesel reserves have increased by less than half a day's normal consumption. Jet fuel is up by more than three days' consumption. On-land supplies amount to about 28 days, 24 days and 28 days of petrol, diesel and jet fuel respectively.
Parolees have described being thrown into the outside world without support and say more psychological support is needed. Parolees say Corrections doesn't record the data, because it would only make it look bad. "Once I was released, the psychological services side of it didn't eventuate. "I got out thinking that I'm going to get out here and I'm just going to do it," he said. "You know, I'm going to get a job, I'm going to be working, I'm going to get my mortgage, I'm going to, you know, and it didn't happen.
The jury has delivered its verdict in the trial of a woman accused of medically abusing her child. Image / NZME composite using RNZ insetA mother accused of ill-treating her child during medical treatment has been found guilty on all seven charges. Medical staff who gave evidence at the trial said the child rapidly recovered after being removed from the mother’s care. Medical child abuse was a recognised diagnosis, described as a form of child abuse where a child received “unnecessary, potentially harmful medical care” at the instigation of a caregiver. On three separate occasions in 2020, the mother allegedly caused illness in the child through wilfully causing a polymicrobial sepsis.
Photo: ODT FilesA shonky plumber has been fined $8000 for illegal work at five Central Otago properties, a court has heard. Ben DeClifford was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to eight charges under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. The charges came after complaints about work DeClifford did at five Cromwell and Wānaka properties between 2023 and last year. This included installation of sewerage and stormwater drains, potable water pipes, sanitary plumbing systems, and a hot water cylinder. ‘‘The water pipes installed below the slab would have likely failed before the durability period of 50 years.
The golden boy of Highlanders and Otago rugby, whose exploits in a free-flowing era of the sport so thrilled his legion of fans. ‘‘In 50 years, people will talk about Jeff Wilson in the same breath as Bert Cooke and George Nepia,’’ Palenski said in 2002. The lad with the golden touch certainly had the complete game. Wilson played 60 tests, scoring a then-record 44 tries, and finished with 151 tries in 230 first-class games. Rugby, of course, is only half of the Jeff Wilson story.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESNicole McKee MP (Opinion ODT 24.3.26) argues that ‘‘New Zealanders should have a serious conversation about alcohol’’. Furthermore, this is only the dollar cost. McKee goes on to say that, of the $9.1b ‘‘gross cost’’ (her words), foetal alcohol spectrum disorder contributes a cost of $4.8b. That means that more than half of the dollar cost ascribed to alcohol-related harm reflects impacts on children, inflicted before they are even born, and the lifelong adverse outcomes associated with this tragic, preventable condition. Apparently, it would be worth doing only if the monetary cost of fixing the road was outweighed by the social cost, in dollars, of not doing it.
University of Otago chemistry researcher Dr Nicholas Green has received a $2million research grant from the Human Frontier Science Program to investigate fish toxins, which could be used to cure diseases. The grant will allow the team to study the genomics, biosynthesis, physiology and chemical synthesis of a little-known family of ichthyotoxins — toxic molecules produced by fish. ‘‘Given that most of us eat fish, it’s important that we know about these toxins. ‘‘But it also turns out that fish toxins include some of the most interesting, confusing chemical structures known to science. ‘‘In terms of the medical context, there’s a lot of mystery around why the particular fish in this case have this natural product present in their tissue.
Supplied photoAn Invercargill businessman died from carbon monoxide poisoning while on a boat trip, a coroner has ruled. The boat was found by police on July 21 and Mr Murrell was dead, and further investigation found a generator and diesel heater were being used aboard. Coroner Heather McKenzie last month ruled carbon monoxide toxicity, exacerbated by his heart disease and alcohol use, caused Mr Murrell’s death. On July 19, Mr Murrell and Mr Allison set off on their trip. They planned to travel from Lake Manapouri Boat Club and stay at the Freeman Hut.
AA's petrol price spokesperson said there would need to be a more sustained move to end the conflict before prices came down for New Zealand motorists. Immediately after the announcement on Wednesday morning, the price of Brent crude oil fell about 16 percent to US$92. The Brent oil price that is quoted as having fallen is effectively the futures price for oil in June, but prices for oil physically delivered today have been much higher. "Beyond the Brent oil price, I'd be keeping a close eye on how Dubai or other Middle East oil prices are tracking, because they had been considerably higher than the Brent price, as well as how refining margins or the crack spread across Asia are evolving. He said at US$90 to US$95 a barrel, oil prices were still well above their pre-conflict levels.
A man is due to appear in court after he was caught attempting to steal fuel from vehicles in Christchurch. "Officers have immediately attended and made enquiries in the area, before stopping a vehicle," police said in a statement. "A search of the vehicle saw it contained five 60 litre containers, a battery-operated siphoning pump, and a small amount of methamphetamine." "The 35-year-old man was expected in Hamilton District Court today – charges were yet to be confirmed." Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny said police are continuing to monitor fuel thefts, "and we have started to see an increase in diesel thefts".
Both north and south bound lanes of the Southern Motorway were blocked after a digger fell from a truck and straddled the concrete medium barrier. Photo: Stephen JaquieryPolice are appealing for dashcam footage as they investigate how a digger came off the back of a truck and blocked Dunedin's Southern Motorway for three hours today. Officers were called to the incident about 10.40am and found the digger blocking multiple lanes. The digger was removed and the motorway reopened around 1.40pm. About 2pm NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advised that the motorway had reopened in both directions, but urged motorists to take care as congestion eased.
PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRA retired doctor on the verge of losing his vision was almost in tears before taking to the skies above Wānaka for an emotional flight in a fighter jet. Dr Paul Glover, of Wanaka, a retired anaesthetist diagnosed with Usher syndrome, celebrated a once-in-a-lifetime flight with friends, family and Champagne yesterday. Dr Glover was one of many to pay $4200 for a 30-minute flight through the Clutha Valley aboard the Aero L-39 Albatros, which was in town for Warbirds Over Wanaka at the weekend. ‘‘It’s one of the most reckless things I’ve ever done, and absolutely the most financially reckless,’’ he said. Yesterday, he was flying at about 240 knots (444kmh), but the fighter jet had a top speed of 300 knots (555kmh).
Art collectors Mary Barr and Jim Barr (right), of Wellington, have enjoyed a long relationship with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSONA well-curated relationship between a gallery and two art collectors has resulted one of New Zealand’s most significant private collections of contemporary art being bestowed on Dunedin. Wellington collectors Jim Barr and Mary Barr have given their 435-item collection to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, much to the delight of its director. The collection had been on long-term loan to the gallery since 1997 — a decision which proved to be a ‘‘total win-win’’, Mr Barr said. ‘‘The main reason to have it in a public art gallery was so people could see it,’’ Mr Barr said.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston during an announcement on Jobseeker in Ellerslie in October last year. Speaking at Tuesday’s post-Cabinet press conference, Luxon said he was okay his party only had one Māori MP in Cabinet, again pointing to the wider Cabinet make-up. “We have got tremendous Māori representation in our coalition Government and Cabinet,” Luxon said. I have said that consistently and that is at the forefront of my considerations.”Overall, there are six Māori MPs in Luxon’s Cabinet (one National MP, two Act MPs and three from New Zealand First). When asked how many Māori MPs he had in his Cabinet, Luxon initially said James Meager – a Māori minister outside Cabinet – before being reminded of Tama Potaka.
